: I have to wonder how much paddler technique has to do with this? I
: mean, with all due respect to Bryan Nystrom, taking it down to
: 1/8" sounds way too thin to me. I make and use lots of
: paddles, take mine down to 1/4" or so. I value a silent
: paddle as much as anybody possibly can, but in addition to
: durability I'm also thinking hand comfort, since all the blade
: is handle on a GP. I do not like the feel of paddles with razor
: edges.

: But maybe I'm just reading it wrong, that everyone's really saying
: to end up with a 1/8" radius, not diameter??

I plane the edges down in stages to a 1/8" flat before rounding them with sandpaper. Due to the varying profile of the blade, the actual finished radius/diameter of the edge varies along the length of the blade, being larger at the shoulders than at the tips. I don't find this shape to be uncomfortable at all, since I don't spend much time with my hands on the tips, nor do I typically grasp the paddle hard enough to cause any discomfort. Note that my blades are 3/4" thick in the center near the tips, not razor thin, and they have a pronounced lenticular cross section. If edge durability is an issue, it's a simple matter to install hardwood edging on the last 12-18" of the blades, either during construction or after the fact.

What matters more to me is that the thinner edges produce a superior feel in the water and the difference with sculling strokes is dramatic compared to "chunky" edges. After the first time I tried it and felt the difference, I was hooked! Of course, if you make your own gear, you're free to use whatever design you prefer.