this thread has been getting ever better, running away in any and every direction as it has! I like it. simple solid wood, hollow wood, laminations, fibre sheathing, fibre vs. fibre, epoxying away any strength... WOW! My poor head is spinning, I must hold my chair with both hands!

But of course its now come to apples vs. oranges (and some bananas!). Can one really compare solid wood with laminated wood? Of course not, not on a per diameter bases. Everyone knows the laminated beams used to support eg. roofs in wooden sports arenas, supermarkets, etc. No solid wood in those applications since maybe a hundred years. Wood only came back to replace steel with the advent of laminated beams.

So when we move from a solid wooden paddle (made from one piece) to a laminated blank, we move into different territory altogether. Why should we not use to our advantage the difference? Of course we should. Should we get scientific, and do our math? By all means, but watch out: have you picket the correct equations? That may not be as easy as one might think.

But to put it coarsely: laminated is stronger, hollow is lighter. Shape determines the direction of greater resistance. Do I need decimals? Heck, no.

But I'll thank everyone who has written about their own experiences during this thread, this has all been valuable. It's nice to know that none of those hollow shafts has yet been broken during normal use!