Patent ID: 7396266

Claim:
A watercraft paddle comprising: a shaft having first and second ends and at least one grip position therebetween for a user's hand; a blade carried by the first end of said shaft; and at least one drip barrier positioned between the at least one grip position and said blade, said at least one drip barrier comprising a base surrounding said shaft, a concave sidewall portion extending from said base toward said blade and curved inward toward said shaft to define a water collection reservoir with said base for collecting water drippage from said blade along said shaft, the water collection reservoir having a bottom portion that is substantially perpendicular to said shaft, said concave sidewall portion having an arclength spanning greater than ninety degrees, and having an upper lip opposite the first section curving outwardly away from said shaft, wherein the curvature of said concave sidewall portion defines an apex portion on an outer surface thereof, and a water deflection ridge carried on the outer surface of said concave sidewall portion adjacent the apex portion and protruding outwardly from the outer surface away from the water collection reservoir.