Who here has made their own paddle? And who still uses it?

-CanoeViking

I made this bent in 2002 prior to a Quetico solo. It is still my go-to paddle. I've got some straights I made around 1990 when I worked at Dagger Paddle Company. Every once in a while the boss would come in and say " glue a paddle for yourself today". I have two real fine straights from those days. These days I make paddles with my grand nephews and nieces as they grow.

One of the projects I have going in the shop during the shut-sown is a new bent. Going for a little lighter. It will go on my July solo if it happens.

I use this bent shaft gem as my go to.

Been a few years though. Might be time for another!

I still use my paddle I made. Ash and cedar.

I whittled a basswood paddle, modified voyageur/beavertail style - single piece of wood. Just linseed oil on it. Still use it. Probably made it a dozen+ years ago.

I made a spruce paddle at a WCHA assembly class years ago. Three basswood paddles shortly there after at home. We only use them with the wood canvas canoes, which is rarely now. Wow! some of these bent shafts shown here are works of art.

CanoeViking: "Who here has made their own paddle? and who still uses it.

-CanoeViking"

I have a big ash tree in my back yard that will likely be coming down this summer. I am picturing where the paddle is hidden inside that tree. A am also curious if there is advantage to carving it out of green wood or dried board.

Anyone have any insight?

I've made several. My first laminated bent-shaft I used for about 10 years. everything about it just fit me right. Eventually, some of the laminations separated, the tip guard came off, and refinishing it became too much. It has been retired. I followed it up with an otter tail paddle that replaced the bent-shaft. Great tripping paddle, but I made the shaft a little too narrow and it cracked when I lent it to a friend. This is a new laminated, bent and hollow shaft that has a matching pattern to the stripper I'm building. Hopefully both will be ready to go by the middle of June.

OCDave: "

CanoeViking: "Who here has made their own paddle? and who still uses it.


-CanoeViking"

I have a big ash tree in my back yard that will likely be coming down this summer. I am picturing where the paddle is hidden inside that tree. A am also curious if there is advantage to carving it out of green wood or dried board.


Anyone have any insight?"

Don't use green wood. It must be seasoned first. A paddle made with green wood will twist and warp. Black ash is a little lighter and more springy than white ash. That said, a paddle made entirely out of ash will be heavy compared to a cedar/ash laminate layup. Most ash trees grow straight clear trunks and have a good supply of quality lumber below the branches.

In Minnesota, black ash is the most prominent tree in the state with an estimated number of over 1.1 billion trees. Once the Emerald Ash borer is finished with us, they will be no more.
Tom

Making my first one. Still in process but getting close. Can't wait to get it out there and put it to good use. An ottertail in cherry.

Knoozer: "I've made several. My first laminated bent-shaft I used for about 10 years. everything about it just fit me right. Eventually, some of the laminations separated, the tip guard came off, and refinishing it became too much. It has been retired. I followed it up with an otter tail paddle that replaced the bent-shaft. Great tripping paddle, but I made the shaft a little too narrow and it cracked when I lent it to a friend. This is a new laminated, bent and hollow shaft that has a matching pattern to the stripper I'm building. Hopefully both will be ready to go by the middle of June. "

Hey koozer. Have you made any paddles with the birds mouth method like your picture there? Or is that your first with this method? Just curious as I’ve made several.

On the woodworking scale, I'm at "beginner" level. I did give a shot at making a paddle and took it on our last trip.
Best I can say is it came out functional, it worked fine. Probably a couple ounces too heavy, I needed sand the shaft down more as it was a little too thick. I used it about half the the time on our trip, and it held up, so I've got that going for me.

If I can get the lawnmowers, bicycles, wheelbarrows and snowblowers out of my shed/workshop, I'll give another one a try.