My solution to that problem has always been to make a new paddle, usually there is some other change I want as well. Carrying the thickness at the centerline further out toward the blade tip will greatly increase the stiffness, my later paddles are 3/8" thich at the tip centerline. This is carried up several inches toward the loom, and then tapers into the shaft.

I would think it'd be difficult to hold the paddle steady enough to get a good dado into it for gluing the spline to. But if you have a way... Or if you have a thickness planer, the original thought of this thread was to take the paddle loom off, re-laminate it and re-carve it, using the original center as the shape template. I would think this an easier solution. But as another posted, it's just as easy to plane blank stock, laminate that, and carve a new paddle. You cant have too many, dont y'know Be sure to number them

I saw a couple other groups that day, one at the launch site and another at Pinnacle Point. What a great area, I envy you. Are you hiring? I might even be able to talk the wife into moving there!

: Don,
: I took a couple of paddles I made to the pool tonight, both seem to work OK
: but one is a bit soft in the blades, any thoughts on routing in a spline
: of fir or spruce to stiffen them. Some friends saw you last weekend on the
: bay and remarked on how good your boats looked.
: Bob
: Kayak basketball is way too much fun, and great incentive to get my roll
: back.