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Aquabound Posilock Ferrule Review

Posted by on June 7, 2013

Over the years I’ve seen dozens of ferrule designs (cam-lock, screw-lock, push button, ect.) all with their pluses and minuses. What I’ve comes to appreciate is that ferrules are a finicky thing and something that the engineer in me has no interest in designing. For example, Werner Paddles has goes through at least four iterations of their Adjustable Ferrule and they’re still not quite there. This begs the question: Is there such a thing as the “perfect” ferrule? Probably not…but the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule comes close.

Close up of the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule

Close up of the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule

Aquabound has long relied on their tried-and-true push-button ferrule design but it was a bit dated with most other manufacturers offering adjustable ferrules. This year, Aquabound released their rendition in the Posi-lock Adjustable Ferrule and it’s a home run! At first glance, the Posilock Ferrule is suspiciously reminiscent of the Werner Adjustable Ferrule. Like the Werner, a plastic cog that aligns the two paddle halves at the desired feathered angle as specified by matching an arrow on one half with a silk-screened gauge on the other half. Both designs utilize minimal plastic parts and secure the paddle halves with an internal plastic catch that is operated via external push buttons.

The Posilock Ferrule has an external cog, easy to read gauge, and no metal parts.

The Posilock Ferrule has an external cog, easy to read gauge, and no metal parts.

Why do I like the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule more than the Werner Adjustable Ferrule?

  1. The Posilock Ferrule contains ZERO metal parts. The entire locking system is constructed of plastic. The Werner Adjustable Ferrule has a small metal spring inside that has been known to corrode and get gummed up over time.
  2. The Posilock Ferrule has a dual button release that’s brightly colored and has buttons that protrude out of the shaft. The present edition of the Werner Adjustable Ferrule has only one button that is flush with the surface of the paddle shaft. This button has been known to pop out of its track if depressed too far.
  3. The Posilock Ferrule has an easy to ready feather angle gauge. The gauge has large lettering and is brightly colored. The gauge on the Werner Adjustable Ferrule has small numbers that a visible through a small peep hole which can be hard for some folks to read.
  4. The Posilock Ferrule has an external cog. The cog on the Posilock Ferrule is largely external to the mechanism and it’s easy to inspect for dirt and grime. The Werner Adjustable Ferrule has an internal cog that is harder to see. If there is dirt and grime on the cog then there is the chance that the two paddle halves can become jammed.

Check out the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule in action:

I’m a huge fan of the Aquabound Posilock Ferrule and feel that its arguably the best ferrule design that I’ve ever seen! This design addresses many of the concerns that I have with various other adjustable feather designs. It’s strong, easy to operate, less likely to fail…you really can’t go wrong with this ferrule!

Happy Paddling

-Kayak Dave

 

 

 

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