Don,

Rather than looking for CVG 2x4's, buy 4x4's and re-saw them. It makes it much easier to get good paddle blanks. It may run an extra buck or two per blank in material costs, but it's faster than sorting through stacks of "2 by's" and the overall quality of the wood seems better. The re-sawed blanks will also be a bit thicker that 2x4's, so you have more material to work with. If possible, allow them to dry for a few days after re-sawing.