Backwater Paddle Company Blog

Video:  Kurt Demonstrating the Predator

Starting Backwater Paddle Company has been with out a doubt, the biggest challenge in my life.  I entered the paddle sports market with nominal business skills, minimal manufacturing knowledge and zero national marketing experience…yet I never blinked, nor balked, when I started on this endeavor.  Failure was never an option.

Having spent most of my adolescent life with the US Navy and in some precarious positions, identifying problems and providing solutions has been paramount to my survival and success.  Since retiring from the Navy, applying these concepts to my daily life has put me down challenging paths.  I would have it no other way, either. 

Nevertheless, success was not measured by what I could do by myself.  Being successful was defined by how I and our team managed to achieve our goals, together.  Survival is a personal fortitude.  Personal success however is not just surviving, but setting and achieving challenging goals.  Surrounding your self with like minded individual’s hell bent on achieving their goals, despite any and all obstacles, will make you successful.  

Backwater Paddle Company, despite tough economic times, has survived.  Not only has it survived, it is growing and flourishing.  This has NOT happened at my sole expense, but through a collaboration of another like minded individual, totally devoted and hell bent on making this company work.  

Kurt Horn, CPM (Chief Paddle Maker), has been the other half of this dynamic paddle company duo.  Without Kurt, Backwater Paddle Company would still be a struggling paddle sports entity.  However, Kurt, a professional cabinet maker and wood worker, provided proof from an inspiration.  On his own initiative, he took a hand drawn concept and delivered a working model, the prototype of the Predator Kayak Fishing Hand Paddles.

This innovative hand paddle prototype is the backbone, the legend, the existence of Backwater Paddle Company and its future moving forward.  A kayak angling dilemma was presented.  A simple idea was designed and Kurt provide the ultimate working solution. The evolution of the Predator Kayak Fishing Hand Paddle proved there was a problem in the kayak fishing community and Backwater Paddles had the answer. 

Inspired, Kurt conceptualized and designed the Piranha Kayak Fishing Hand Paddle.  He provided another viable fishing hand paddle to solve the kayak fishermen’s dilemma. 

Kurt has selflessly devoted hundreds of hours into this paddle sports project.  He has personally made EVERY kayak fishing hand paddle that has left the shop!  He is involved in all research and development, every manufacturing decision, material testing, ordering and quality assurance. 

What has Kurt earned from this?  Well the first thing Kurt will probably tell you is success is not measured in what you have today, but what you will have tomorrow.  Kurt is in this project for the long run.   Kurt understands the sacrifice, devotion, and the long hours working in the shop to achieve a common goal.  The payoff is in the future.

Has Kurt ever complained?  Has Kurt ever slacked?  NEVER!!  Kurt is at the paddle shop between 5am – 6am daily, busting out more paddles till late afternoon.  Kurt is relentless in the pursuit of perfection.  This is why every paddle leaving our shop is flawless!  He would have it no other way!!

I could not have possibly moved Backwater Paddle Company to where we are today without having Kurt at my side.  In one year, we have gone from relative obscurity to the front pages of the kayak angling community, worldwide.  

We could have never imagined the acceptance and success these kayak fishing hand paddles have created.  Not only here stateside, Backwater Paddles presence is spreading throughout Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Wales.  Who would of thought?

It is an honor and pleasure to work along side Kurt.  Kurt Horn is Backwater Paddles.  Thanks Kurt!!

Backwater Paddle Company was presented a problem that was all too often encountered in the evolving kayak fishing and sportsmen communities.  How do you paddle your kayak and keep fishing?  How do you move silently while photographing from a kayak?  How do you stealthily hunt from a kayak?

Paddle or fish?  Paddle or shoot? All kayak sportsmen have experienced the difficulty of paddling your kayak while holding your fishing rod, gun or camera.  It takes two hands to wrangle a seven foot kayak paddle, no matter how you hold it.  Something has to be set down to do the other.  Throw in a fishing pole or gun and you soon realize you need three hands! 

Backwater Paddle Company is providing answers to the kayak paddle sportsmen’s dilemma.  The Predator and Piranha Kayak Fishing Hand Paddles were developed for the kayak angler and sportsmen to easily move their boat while continuing to fish, photograph or hunt. 

The demand for kayak fishing hand paddles was born from necessity.  You can see the latest innovation in kayak fishing accessories at www.backwaterpaddles.com

Ed Halm, Backwater Paddle Company owner was fortunate enough to find his company in the midst of the explosion of paddle sports.  Ed is no stranger to adversity.  As a retired US Navy survival instructor, kayak eco-tour guide and patented paddle designer, providing solutions to paddling problems is his passion. 

With his vast paddling and military survival experience, Ed is usually found on the water, working directly with sportsmen, identifying potential paddling problems and providing distinctive solutions to the paddle sports market in an immeasurable way.  

The vision of Backwater Paddles is “not to just be another paddle manufacturer, but rather a cultural phenomenon in paddle innovation.”

Kayak fishing, is one of the fastest growing water sports today.  Kayak fishermen, also known as kayak anglers, and kayak sportsmen require specialty equipment, gear and accessories to effectively pursuit their sport.   Kayakers, anglers and sportsmen merged concepts and technologies.  Kayak fishing hand paddles evolved. 

Backwater Paddle Company and other paddle sport manufacturers are rapidly developing and introducing new paddle equipment, gear and accessories to satisfy this exploding outdoor water sports market. 

The concept of fishing hand paddles originated from intrepid kayak anglers solving this problem with ping pong paddles, Kadema paddles, modified badminton racquets and the sort.  Kayak sportsmen quickly realized they could hold their fishing rod and with the other hand paddle their kayak stealthily toward their prey. 

 Stow that unwieldy kayak paddle.  Place a small and lightweight kayak fishing hand paddle between your legs or close by.  Effortlessly move your kayak with one hand while continuing to fish, photograph or hunt, without spooking the wildlife.

As you begin your foray into kayak fishing, hunting or photography, do your research.  Peruse the internet, talk to local anglers and sportsmen.  Visit local outfitters and try various kayak platforms and fishing hand paddles.  That little effort will certainly make your next kayak sporting adventure more rewarding and memorable. 

Visit www.store.backwaterpaddles.com to purchase Backwater Paddle’s Predator or Piranha Kayak Fishing Hand Paddles.  

Dealerships and ground floor investment opportunities are available.  Paddle shops, outfitters and prospective investors can contact Ed Halm at Backwater Paddle Company for further information. 

Paddle With Attitude…Paddle Anywhere!!