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Grizzlyman
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Yes epoxy will grab ahold of the wood and Never let go. Build a “dam” out of play doh or plumbers putty to shape the tip. There’s a bunch of threads on this, so you’ll see what I mean hen you search for them. Also, mix in some wood sanding dust or sawdust in the epoxy to thicken and color it. Thickness of honey is about right for a tip.
Regarding finish. I always oil the handle and shaft. You’ll get many opinions, but the soft Finish from oil is IMO the best. Steel wool between coats to get a nice soft smooth finish. You can oil the blade as well, but I usually put polyurethane or Varnish On the blade. I tend to prefer polyurethane as it doesn’t usually tint the wood like varnish does.
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Deacon
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I sometimes oil the the handle itself...but usually I end up using spar varnish on the whole paddle. Mine are simple, single piece, (ash or cherry usually), straight shaft paddles. I use epoxy on the tip, which helps for a while. Every season I look them over to see who might need a touch up...it is satisfying to bring an old companion back into condition.
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A1t2o
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So I'm making my own wooden paddle and am thinking about how to finish it. Should I go with epoxy or varnish? Oil seems like a pain due to maintenance but I would welcome any insight if there is a good reason to choose this finish. I usually only use my paddle once or twice a year, I put a very hard dense rot-resistant wood on the outer edges and am planning on an epoxy tip, so it shouldn't need too much protection, just a nice finish.
What finishes are recommended? Wasn't planning on glassing the blade since I made it to be tough to the point of being over-weight, so this should be straight to the wood except for the tip. What are cost differences, what maintenance would be required, and what are good products to use? I want to stick with clear coats since I'm making this look nice too and it might get hung on the wall when it is not in use.
I could also use some advice on making the tip. I'm not sure how that would work. Do I just make a rough shape then sand it to fit? Will the epoxy just bond straight to the edge of the wood?
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Rustycards
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I like spar varnish, gives it a nice shine. Scratches come out with another application if you want. As far as the edge, I use a cloth rope a tad smaller than the thickness of the paddle, soak it in resin, and put it on the outside edge of the paddle. Then my fiberglass goes over that. Makes for a nice look and very sturdy. Last few paddles I found some black and white rope at Menards and it looks great! 
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