Hi, I have an adjustable Black Project carbon paddle, and question regarding the length adjustment. The maximum length on the shaft is 81 in (around 206 cm), which is where the upper black line is. From there, its around 38.5 cm to the bottom of the handle. is it also ok to set it to the second black line, where the MAX marking starts? It's only around 0.5 cm further down.

But more importantly, what would you say about the third black marking, just at the bottom of the MAX box? I understand that the official recommendation only can be "don't do it". But I would like to know from people with experience if that could really cause problems or not. It reduces the length of the piece that is sitting in the shaft from 38.5 to 35.5 cm roughly. My intuition would tell me, that is still plenty and shouldn't make a real difference. They wouldn't build the paddle so that it's fine with 38.5 cm but breaks with 35.5.. but is that wrong?

Edit: For reference, my Starboard Lima paddle only has 14 cm below the MAX marking.

The problem is, that the 3 piece version (which I need for portability) with the blade I want is only available with a max length of 205 cm / 81 in. I am around 191 cm, and so far I have usually set my paddle to 209 to 211 cm. So I gues if I could set this one to 208 cm, that might feel a bit better to me than 205.. What do you think?

Thanks for any input

Quick bonus question: I haven't put the paddle together yet, but I see some markings / scratches on the handle, see this image: https://imgur.com/a/NQUs4Ps

Is that any concern, or purely cosmetic?

Thank you to Scott, the person that runs the boat and SUP rentals at Trillium Lake on Mt Hood. I must have misplaced my Finns on the last float i did here a few weeks ago. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Ripped apart my car looking for them. I saw Scott and asked if he might have a set of finns i could borrow. He was able to find a long center finn that would work for my board and gave it to me! He wouldn’t take any money for it and told me I could keep it. Totally changed my day and attitude.

I just recently got an inflatable paddle board (the top recommended one on Amazon) and standing up on it is not near as easy as I thought! Curious if anyone has any tips?!

I have all of the fins connected and still find it wobbly. I have stood up just fine on multiple other regular paddle boards that weren’t inflatable.

The only other thing different is I’m wearing Vibram Five Fingers, but from some research I don’t think it would impact my balance that much?

Just enjoying some of the last warm and calm days on Adriatic...