One of advantage of making your own paddle is that you can optimize it for your exact size and skill level. The story goes that someone gave walter walker, the legendary peterborougharea canoe builder who worked for nearly every company in town in the course of a long canoe building career, an old paddle that they. Before you start chopping down a tree, its best that look at what youre going to need in making a canoe paddle. So, instead of buying one, why not make your own canoe paddle.
This book has been described as the paddlemakers bible. A complete guide to making your own, longtime canoeist and woodworker graham warren presents detailed blueprints for making paddles that you will cherish and use with confidence. First published more than a decade ago and having sold this book combines practical woodworking technique with practical canoe use experience. The challenge was to make the new book suitably different from making canoe paddles in wood. Sawdust and shavings despite the growing interest in making paddles and canoes, it can be difficult to find reliable information on that craft. Its interesting to see the cross sections of the paddle clearly shown. An other book that describes paddle building is graham warren and david gidmarks canoe paddles.
Paddle making workshop canoe or kayak paddle freeranger canoe. I think this is the best book you can buy if you want to make your own canoe paddles. Sep 11, 2018 making sure to have a paddle that is a perfect fit will make your canoeing a lot easier and even more enjoyable. Aug 26, 2015 learn to make a traditional solid wood canoe paddle, a tool that travelers in these parts have been making and using for hundreds of years.
Dec 02, 2012 canoe paddles come in various shapes and styles. Warren and gidmarks book mainly discusses canoe paddle building, but it does have an excellent chapter on kayak paddles. Just realized that the great lakes maple paddle featured in this earlier post is also discussed in graham warrens book 100 canoe paddl. This article discusses the key points of a paddle purchase. Learn to make a traditional solid wood canoe paddle, a tool that travelers in these parts have been making and using for hundreds of years. Making a canoe paddle choosing a design ashes still water. Sawdust and shavings despite the growing interest in making paddles and canoes, it can be difficult to find reliable information on that craft except for this book. A complete guide to making your own, longtime canoeist and woodworker graham warren provides detailed information. Canoe paddle templates feedback requested apropos of older paddles, i carved one a couple of years ago thats still my favorite. How to build a traditional canoe paddle aldo varotto. How to make a canoe paddle do it yourself mother earth news. Paddle design grips, shaft, blade, flexibility, weight. This book combines practical woodworking technique with practical canoe use.
Black cherry canoe paddle under bruces guidance in a oneday workshop. If, however, you prefer a longer or shorter paddle whether you sit or kneel in the canoe can make a difference, for example, feel free to adjust the length accordingly. Detailed instructions for building this type of form are given in the book, the wood and canvas canoe. A paddle making friend with far more experience recommended this book to me as the bible of paddle making. They made the paddle centered on the beautiful wood sunburst pattern used to make the wide blade really pop to the eye. This page comes from an old book we have had at home since i was a child. Despite the growing interest in making paddles and canoes, it can be difficult to find reliable information on that craft except for this book. A complete guide to making your own the methods described are both thorough and straight forward. I have used square tip, bent shaft, beavertail, and oversized paddles but never the ottertail. For the bow paddler the paddle reaching the cleft of your chin or 9 inches less than your height is correct. Spar urethane is used on many outdoor projects to protect the wood from the elements, but some. Jun 28, 2001 canoe paddles makes it possible for many of us novice woodworkers to create our own personal paddles. I set out to write a more focussed how to book, in contrast to the first book which is discursive in style, containing anecdotes, paddle lore and historical notes on the paddle designs described. Determining the paddle length standing height is not an accurate way to size a canoe paddle.
Anyone with a basic understanding of woodworking can follow this book and produce canoe paddles to suit any type of paddling. Like canoes, paddles are designed for specific uses and include wilderness tripping, paddling in rivers and whitewater, racing, and solo paddling and freestyle paddling. Participants will be introduced to a variety of paddle designs, different grips, paddle sizing and paddle care. For our racine paddle if you are over 56 tall select the 6312 length and the shorter paddle if you are under56tall. A complete guide to making your own, longtime canoeist and woodworker graham warren provides detailed information and guidance to make a canoe paddle that will be used with confidence and cherished for generations. By the end of the evening you will have custom fit your paddle length and glued together a paddle blank.
When paddling solo we typically recommend a bow length paddle. On saturday, with the help of an instructor, you will shape the paddle, first using a bandsaw and then with traditional toolshandplanes and a spokeshavethe same way artisans have been making paddles for centuries. Were going to teach you how to make a canoe paddle of your own out of just a piece of wood. Apr 05, 2018 i researched how to finish a canoe paddle and couldnt get a clear answer on recommended methods. Despite the growing interest in making paddles and canoes, it is difficult to find. If youre making a paddle, youll have to choose between a traditional oiled finish, a spar varnish, or an acrylic finish. Free ranger canoe in the netherlands has published a good series of pictures depicting a laminated paddle build. How to make a canoe paddle do it yourself mother earth. The book is thoroughly illustrated with photographs, line drawings and plans with measurements for. Of course any paddle you make will be a custom model just.
So, this guide is set out to give you a good breakdown as to what type of paddle and size of paddle you need when out canoeing. From his insightful look at the way a paddle works when it meets the water through the selection of the best woods, adhesives and tools, warren takes. Heming travelled with voyageur brigades at the very end of the fur trade era documenting the times with a mix of both realistic and fanciful artworks. In fact, how it feels in your hands can be as important as the basics of shape, size, grip and materials. You have a canoe, now its time to choose the paddle. Your options will be limited to the latter two should you choose to glass your blade. All that can be found in my book canoe and kayak building the light and easy way. Best wooden canoe books my favorite books about the construction, history and restoration of wooden canoes. He starts with a comparison of various styles and paddles and a bit of history.
Whether you are making a paddle from a single piece of wood or a laminated paddle consisting of several pieces, this comprehensive book will show you the way. Our paddle making workshop is designed to teach the fundamentals of hand tool carving while shaping your paddle. It covers the full gambit of many paddle designs, pros and cons, types of wood to use, single wood paddles, lamminate paddles, grain structure of the woods, glues, finishes, tools to use, depending on how high or low tech you want to be, literally everything. Most canoeists require a paddle in the 52 to 60 range. A complete guide to making your own by graham warren, david gidmark isbn. The information here is an expansion of the paddle making chapter and can be used in conjunction with the book. It requires less wood which is one of the reasons almost all commercial paddle makers of note use laminated blanks. Theres a special place on the shore of lake superior, in grand marais, minnesota, that combines the loves of handmade crafts, the outdoors and northern traditions.
This canoe paddle is a straight shaft design with a carbon shaft and reinforced blade. Entitled, 100 canoe paddle designs, it features measured offsets and historical background for a wide array of paddles. You can find wood, carbon, alluminium and plastic ones. Helped by the people he meets on the way, paddle tothesea travels through each of the great lakes on his way to the ocean. The additional photos and details here help illuminate the process and avoid pitfalls. It covers every single aspect of canoe paddle building. Construct this canoe as 1 a wood canvas model, 2 an allwood rushtonstyle canoe, or 3 a modern wood strip and fiberglass canoe.
I am paddle to the sea please put me back into the water an indian boy, living on a river north of lake superior, writes this on the bottom of his carving of an indian in a canoe, and sets paddle on his way. From his insightful look at the way a paddle works when it meets the water through the selection of the best woods, adhesives and tools, warren. This book combines practical woodworking technique with practical canoe use experience. This kind of paddle is particularly suited for long canoe trips, on deep water lakes, sea, with open canoes. Bruces years of teaching and canoeing experience, combined with a simple stepbystep process, make this a relaxed, rewarding endeavour for everyone. You will learn how to use a combination of shaves and files but also power tools. And duane strosaker describes a way to make carbon fiber blades on his website. For my part, im a big fan of a traditional finish, the directions and recipe for which can be found here. Canoe paddle sizing get the right fit camp kayak canoe. While warrens instructions are detailed and clear, the book is aimed at someone with a fair bit of woodworking experience. My quest for an ottertail paddle began this summer. Morris plans offer three different styles of construction in one set of plans.