Canoe Double Paddles

Materials

We like the warm feel and traditional appearance of wood. For the optimal combination of stiffness and light weight, Sitka spruce is the best choice. We use premium spar grade Sitka due to its straight and uniform grain.

Length

In the early days of canoeing, paddles tended to be quite long, 9' wasn't unusual. This is too long for comfortable use, and lengths were reduced. In most cases, 8' seems about right. Shorter paddles require a faster stroke rate, and require that the paddle be tilted more as it is used. Paddle drip is more of a problem with short paddles.

Blade shape

The blades on our paddles are spooned, in others words concave along both their length and width. In moderation, this increases the strength of the blade. More importantly, it slips less through the water, and it enters the water without tending to twist the paddler’s wrist as much as a flat blade would. Nowadays, composite paddles use asymmetrically shaped flat blades to accomplish the same result without the complexity of spoon blades.

A wooden canoe really needs a nice paddle, and these are hand carved beauties.

Feathering

We favor feathering paddles, with the blades at 90 degrees to each other. This might sound awkward to use, but in practice, the feathering motion is very natural. The advantage is that on the recovery stroke, the blade is not being pushed broadside to the wind, so paddling is easier, especially in windy conditions.

Some kayakers avoid feathering paddles since they need to be able to “paddle-brace” instantly to prevent a capsize, and a feathering paddle may be oriented wrong accidentally, with nasty consequences. Canoes have much more stability, and paddle bracing isn’t part of the program.

Epoxy-glued scarf joints are used on feathering paddles to maintain the optimal grain orientation. The scarfs are cut at a 12:1 ratio to ensure maximum strength.

Left or right-handed, feathering or not, short or long, we can accommodate your requirements.

Paddle Drip

An 8' paddle will require little to prevent water from running down the paddle to the canoeist’s hands and lap. We have found that a simple strip of leather tied around the shaft of the paddle works very well.

Grip diameter

We find that 1-1/8" — 1-1/4" is right for most paddlers.

Finish

Six coats of spar varnish protect the paddle, controlling the moisture content in the wood and preventing weathering.

Weight

Simply holding the paddle in front of you can be fatiguing if the paddle is too heavy. Our 8' Sitka spruce paddles are approximately 2¼ lbs, which compares favorably with composite paddles. Somewhat lighter weights are possible by shortening the paddle and reducing the blade thickness.

When you are ready to discuss your project, please call us at (360) 277-9015 or send us an email at boat_works@yahoo.com. We look forward to working with you!