Greg,

Sorry about the paddle mishap. If I understand you correctly, you want to trim-off a couple inches on each tip and reattach some ash in its place? A biscuit or a couple dowels across the butt joint should hold the new tip pretty well. Jay Babina makes some nice Greenland paddles with hardwood tips (I believe). If I remember correctly, he cuts a curved 'V' shape into the end and fits a matching hardwood tip. Not a very clear explanation. Perhaps Jay could elaborate or post a photo?

The raised spine at the center of the paddle does make the paddle climb during sculling with very little wrist twist. It also reduces flutter.

Ross

: While I was building the Merganser, I was also working on the paddles below
: (left to right): Greenland style (first try, from pine; made last winter,
: just to see if it could really be done). Has warped and is heavy. Second
: paddle is a Greenland storm, blades made from double layer of lauan (about
: 4/10 inch thick), with rewood added to loom. Next is a euro or standard
: style, made from plans in "The Kayak Shop". Used single layer of
: lauan for blades, fir pole and redwood spacer for shaft. Blades have been
: fiberglassed. The far right paddle is from a single piece of redwood, but
: is too small for me (it's 7' by 3"). It is really light, but the wood
: is very soft!

: Now for my questions: (1) I stepped on the redwood paddle yesterday and broke
: about 2 inches off one end (it seemed very brittle). If I epoxy a 2 or 3
: inch piece of ash to each end (via butt joint), will it hold okay without
: 'glass over it? I don't really want to 'glass the blades, but will if
: necessary.

: (2) Is it really necessary to have the thickness (or oval shape) in the
: blades of a Greenland paddle? Or are the flat blades (as in my storm
: paddle) okay?

: Thanks in advance for your help. -- Greg