Ok, strike Jarra off the list again.

All the links I've looked at have advised against glassing the paddle for reason's that I don't currently recall. I wanted to avoid laminating at first - planning to keep all the off-cuts for later, but maybe I'll get brave yet.

Thanks and where's Bowning?

pjr

Peter Robinson
Brisbane
Australia

: Unless you are determined to use the paddle to build up your muscles for
: paddling, I would not suggest jarrah for a paddle.
: Check the density of jarrah. I found a site recently with the exact figures
: and of course I have now forgotten where it was.
: Take my word for it, jarrah is heavy.
: While I have not made a greenland style kayak paddle, I have made a few canoe
: paddles using alternating 3mm strips of balsa and western red cedar for
: the handles. The strength comes from fibreglass or carbon fibre tape
: sandwiched between the outer few layers. In spite of being much lighter
: than commercial recreational paddles and almost as light as the better
: competition paddles, I haven't broken one yet.
: If you are making a strip built kayak, the strength comes from the glass
: skin, so why not accept the same principle and use the lightest timber
: possible with a glass skin providing the strength.
: I would suggest western red cedar. Laminate the timber to avoid wasting
: timber by buying unnecessarily large planks.

: Allan Newhouse
: Bowning
: Australia