I have not seen too many posts on this website about paddle shape and design.
I have taken a few pictures of paddles from the internet and books that depict traditional paddle design drew them in drafting software. The bottom is my personal creation.

Does anyone have experience with paddle design? I am thinking that there should be a slightly different blade (size and ratios) for each paddler for a given situation. I already understand the idea behind shaft length. I am looking to get into building my own paddle and was curious if anyone would give their two cents.

The units next to the paddle name is the blade surface area in in^2.



Thanks

"Canoe Paddles" by Graham Warren and David Gidmark

WHendrix: ""Canoe Paddles" by Graham Warren and David Gidmark"

I second this book. Absolutely key for intro to paddlemaking.

Your paddle shape is about the same as a basic modern paddle(Bending Branches, Mitchell, etc). When I acquired my first modern design, Clement, in the 1970s I never looked back at traditional designs. Both in straight and bent-shaft it works well in also any situation. I still like to use an old-fashioned design for dancing around, but for covering miles over the water I am always using a modern shape.

What is different among the designs is the paddle face contours. Does the shaft taper into the blade or does its thickness end at the top of the blade? It effects how water moves across and off the blade and returns on the back side. It also effects strength. When shaft thickness ends abruptly at the top of the blade I feel that is a weak point. Tapering the shaft to blade thickness about 2/3 of the way down the blade also "tapers" the flexibility from the rigid shaft to the flexible blade. No abrupt change in flexibility that is often where breakage occurs.

It is fun to experiment with building paddles and inexpensive, too. I mostly build paddles for children these days, with shafts sizes to fit their hands. They help pick out the wood and glue up the pieces and sand and finish. Nothing inspires a child to take up canoeing like having their very own paddle.

My mistake. 'My Paddle' is the current paddle I own. My own creation is the 'otter maple' which is an otter tail and a maple leaf paddle combination.

jbacker7: "

WHendrix: ""Canoe Paddles" by Graham Warren and David Gidmark"

I second this book. Absolutely key for intro to paddlemaking."

I will third this book. You need to get this book if this is your first paddle. Buy some graph paper and draw out your pattern on graph paper taped together. Then cut out the pattern. Then spray paint over the pattern onto the wood to give you the pattern on the wood. Then cut out the wood and shape to what you want. Here is my Beaver Tail paddle I made.

link you may like

I found what I was looking for.

http://www.greenval.com/buy_paddle.html

My .02

Your paddle has probably too much surface are to use effectively.

There’s probably a sweet spot for everyone based on strength that correlates to how much paddle they can move comfortably.

I’ve built and designed a number of paddles. I’m 6’2” and 250 former football player, so I used to build pretty big paddles with the aim of moving faster. Not sure what the surface area is.

My 100% honest opinion? The larger surface just doesn’t matter. Those weren’t as comfortable to use, so I don’t pick them up as often. If I just look back objectively, I can say I almost always pick up either.

1. More modern blade shape bent shaft paddle
2. Ottertail
3. Beaver tail.

I made all o these 3 paddles, but theyre “standard” size.