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Re: Aleut Paddle *Pic*
By:dbynoe
Date: 7/22/2009, 12:12 pm
In Response To: Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip. (Scott Fitzgerrell)

Sure do,
Its about 93" long (top of fingers with arm outstretched), blades are about 4" wide. Which is too wide I suppose, and I keep meaning to cut it back as it definitely has a lot of bite, but now I have been paddling with it all summer and I am getting used to it. I first made the loom shoulder width apart, I found it hard to use so I made it shoulder width plus a fist. I also find that I hook my little finger onto the shoulder where the blade starts and it gives me good control on the angle of the blade.
Material is vertical grain western red cedar. Don't know the exact weight but it is crazy light. Everyone I hand it to remarks on it. Because the grain is vertical it doesn't seem to flex or bow much under load. It dents easy, but I think it just gives it character. I coated it with tung oil, and have had to recoat it a couple times till I got it built up nice.

As for how it paddles, well I don't use my fiberglass blade anymore except for rivers. The paddle has a lot of buoyancy so it makes rolls easier. Also I find when I am paddling in rough conditions I just angle the blade so it is hitting the water at a bit of a climbing angle and put my stroke a little more out from the kayak, it slows me down a bit, but each stroke is a mini sweep/brace so it adds a lot of confidence. The reason for the no rivers thing is that the paddle needs a couple feet of water to bite properly.

Oh, and the picture is of a show I did with it, the pile of stuff on the bottom is everything I cut off the 2x6 to make it. I roughed the shape on the band saw including the taper on the back, and then just went at it with carving gouges, knives and a spoke shave. If I was doing it again I might consider laminating because it would save a lot of wood and a lot of effort. However on a first paddle I wanted the full experience.

: Lovely shots! What a nice trip. I'm curious about your Aleutian paddle. Got
: pics/info?

: Tx!

: --S

Messages In This Thread

Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip. *LINK* *Pic*
dbynoe -- 7/19/2009, 3:31 am
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
Andy Waddington -- 8/10/2009, 5:33 am
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
William Cruz -- 7/28/2009, 7:59 pm
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 7/21/2009, 2:14 pm
Re: Aleut Paddle *Pic*
dbynoe -- 7/22/2009, 12:12 pm
Re: Aleut Paddle
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 7/23/2009, 1:53 pm
Re: Aleut Paddle
dbynoe -- 7/24/2009, 1:43 am
Re: Aleut Paddle *Pic*
dbynoe -- 7/22/2009, 12:17 pm
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip. *Pic*
Terry Harper -- 7/20/2009, 10:37 am
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
Bill Hamm -- 7/20/2009, 12:18 am
SOF cleanout
mike allen -- 7/19/2009, 4:14 pm
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
West -- 7/19/2009, 2:15 pm
Re: Launching: SOF Broken IslandsTrip.
dbynoe -- 7/19/2009, 2:54 pm