Making your own canoe paddle gives you the freedom to design it to your specifications. Many types of wood can be used to create canoe paddles, including cedar, ash, cherry, maple, pine, walnut, or poplar. Hardwoods tend to make heavier paddles that last longer while softer woods make lightweight paddles that tend to wear out more quickly. A paddle can either be made of a single piece of wood, as in these instructions, or of laminated sections of wood. This project requires simple tools and a basic understanding of woodworking.
Step 1
Choose a kiln-dried board, 1 1/2 inches thick, 8 inches wide, and 5 1/2 feet long. The wood should be straight, flat-grained and free of knots.
Step 2
Draw the outline pattern for the shape of the paddle you wish to make on a large sheet of paper. Ensure both sides of the pattern are symmetrical.
Step 3
Transfer this pattern onto the board you have selected by using carbon paper and tracing the pattern. Ensure that the pattern is centered on the board. Mark a center line on the pattern.
Step 4
Cut the pattern out of the board using a band saw or jigsaw. Use a hand plane or draw knife to thin the blade. Ensure that the blade is thicker in the center and tapers to the edges.
Step 5
Use the draw knife and a rasp to round out the end grip and handle of the paddle. This will complete the rough form of the paddle.
Step 6
Sand the paddle with a coarse 75-grit sandpaper to finish shaping. Smooth and round any rough edges and continue to thin the blade with the sand paper, as needed. Use consistently finer sand paper to smooth the wood, working up to a fine 200 grit for a final finish.
Step 7
Brush on a coat of clear polyurethane or linseed oil thinned with mineral spirits and allow it to dry. Repeat this step three or four more times. If using polyurethane, the paddle is finished, once dried. If using linseed oil, finish with a final coat of ultraviolet resistant spar varnish and allow it to dry, then wet sand the varnish with 400 grit sandpaper. Apply two more coats of varnish, sanding each coat. Apply a final coat without sanding and allow it to dry to finish the paddle.
Things You'll Need
- Wooden board
- 1- by 6-foot sheet of white paper
- Pencil
- Carbon paper
- Band saw or jigsaw
- Hand plane
- Draw knife
- Wood rasp
- Sandpaper, 75, 100, 200 and 400 grit
- Polyurethane coating
- Linseed oil
- Mineral spirits
- Ultraviolet resistant spar varnish
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