: Actually, twelve, unless I missed one or two. It's a long story... In the
: search for the perfect paddle, I keep building the perfect paddle, until
: Ive used it awhile. Then it isnt perfect anymore, and I have to try
: something new.

A bit like with the girls, way back when....?

: Number twelve is a little long, but when trimmed down it might replace #10 as
: #1, at least until #13 comes along. See why I need to number them? It's
: got a smooth transition, and pointed tips, and a little more width at the
: tips. It has a lot of power, much like a euro. Too much, thats why I think
: trimming it will help. 8' is too long, and I knew that when I carved it.

8' too long? Well, what's too short, then? (now you'll have to make a short one, too )

: In the meantime, #10 is #1. It follows Chuck Holsts plans prettty close,
: except I think the edges are sharper. The loom is a little wider, which is
: more comfortable in the Spring Run. The Walrus will require paddles #
: 14-23 to find that balance...

Now I see! You need a dozen per boat, just for starters! Wow

: And Jeff still favors #9, the redwood one that replaced the one that broke.
: (THATS the one I missed! Add one to all these numbers!!) So eventually
: I'll make a new #9 for him, and give away the old one. It's edges are
: getting a little chewed up anyway.

Is Jeff chewing on the edges - maybe he needs vitamins?

: Here, you can see #12 being laid out, next to #10, the current favorite,
: which is next to another one, I think it's #11. The idea was to come up
: with a cross between the two paddles.

To get a cross between the two, why not just turn off the lights, and tiptoe out the door, gently closing it behind you?

But anyway, I remember last summer you posted something about visiting Harvey Golden and having a good look at his paddles - all those replicas. Did this have any effect on the ones you've built since?

And yes, one more. I recall you having stated that you've about got stuck with a width of 3.5 ", is this still the case or have you already tried something narrower than 3" ? (No, I'm not trying to push anybody "over the edge" - I just think that with all those paddles, you MUST have something special, maybe a secret you've found, and aren't telling us? )

Don?