Subject: Re: [baidarka] Greenland Paddle
From: George Parsons (GHParsons@msn.com)
Date: Thu Jan 24 2002 - 21:30:02 EST
I have made a couple of sets of Greenland style paddles out of red cedar
2x4's. I cut out the basic shape with a handheld electric jig saw and then
use an electric plane to get the tips down to 1/4" and the looms down to about
1 1/4". I do not finish them with anything and the first set is now over a
year old with no problems. After the electric plane, I dry sand them and then
wet sand them to get them as smooth as possible. They are also stored out of
the weather and damp so they only get wet when I am paddling.
I make the regular paddle as long as I can reach high. The loom is the width
determined by holding my elbows to my sides and measuring the width of my
fists. The blade width is a C formed by my thumb and index finger which is
just about the 4 in the 2x4. The ends are flat. Pretty basic paddles. The
storm started out with a looms two fists wide but now I make them 4 fists
wide. Seems to work better.
It is a set because I always make a regular paddle and a storm paddle at the
same time. Red cedar appeared to be pretty fragile and I always want a backup
paddle, not that I have broken any yet. The tips are covered with 1/4"
sections of PVC tubing that are held on with 1/8" dowels and PVC glue. The
tips look like bone or ivory so it is a nice touch and really seems to protect
the soft red cedar. I have started putting the end dowels in at an angle
after I lost one tip on the original set where all three dowels were aligned
along the length of the paddle and the tip just slipped off during use.
I like the Greenland style paddle because it is less taxing on these old bones
and muscles. True, I am not as fast as some of my companions with Euro style
paddles but I think I may hurt less.
George
----- Original Message -----
From: Marian Gunkel
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 8:36 PM
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Greenland Paddle
Wes wrote:
> I recently finished a Greenland paddle and wanted some suggestions on
> finishing it. What is better to oil it with linseed oil (or tung-oil) OR
> epoxy/fiber glass it?
That's a matter of personal preference, as well as a function of your handling
characteristics. If you abuse your paddle a lot, I'd go with epoxy/fiberglas.
For ordinary use, I prefer an oiled paddle (boiled linseed oil, earlier I used
a mix of linseed, tung oil and dyers). It just feels better on the hands.
BTW: you can oil your paddle now, try it and epoxy/fiber glass it later.
> Also, would it be better to just epoxy the ends and oil the
> rest.
What wood is the paddle made of? If it's hard wood, I'd leave it as is. My
western red cedar Aleut style paddle (greetings to James Mitchell ;-)) shows
some wear on the tips as did my fir greenland style paddle (before it broke at
a knot hole).
But I see the paddle as a tool I "work" with and I am lazy as well. So, I just
leave the tips as they are. No significant loss in functionality yet.
Cheers,
Marian
--Marian Gunkel
Berlin, Germany
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