At SSTIKS, we will be providing either a solid core blank that is roughed out on a bandsaw, or a laminated hollow-cored one that is similar. Availability on the laminated ones will need to be limited to pre-registration, as it takes some time to lay them up.

Fundamentally, I agree with Greg in that a solid cedar paddle can be as light, or almost as light, as a laminated one. The thing I really like best about the hollow cored paddles is that thier weight distribution goes out toward the tips, the loom is lighter. This makes for a really nice swing, and still keeps the weight down. Most of the solid paddles I have weigh in at 30-34 ounces, depending on the selection of the blank. The laminated ones are coming in at 27 to 30 ounces. I really dont think that adding a harder finish adds to the finished weight more than a fraction of an ounce. I cant tell the difference with my simple balance-beam, and it's accurate to the nearest ounce. It's easier to control the weight using laminations than it is by choosing a blank. While I will have clear cedar for the blanks at SSTIKS, I may or may not be able to get only the finest lightweight quartersawn ones. Chances are they will be a variation, depending on what is in stock when I go to pick them up.

The other nice things about the laminated ones are that they look cool, and the layout lines are already there

: I would recommend that, especially for your first efforts, simply find a nice
: piece of clear, vertical grain western red cedar and finish it with oil or
: leave it bare. A solid cedar paddle is very lightweight as-is, and will
: have more buoyancy than a laminated paddle protected by a heavy finish.
: Solid paddles remain my favorites, partly because of their simplicity.

: A solid or laminated/hollow-core Greenland paddle should have an identical
: shape since the paddle shape is determined by custom fitting it to your
: hands, body and kayak, rather than conforming to a particular construction
: method. You may wish to review Chuck Holst's excellent article on
: paddle-making on the Qajaq USA site at http://www.qajaqusa.org (look
: under the "Traditional Equipment / Paddle Making / Kayak
: Building" heading).

: There was some talk of paddle-blanks being supplied at SSTIKS. I'm sure that
: Don will provide some additional information.

: Greg Stamer