Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I am wanting to get a quality wooden canoe paddle. I prefer a straight shaft paddle, but haven't 100% ruled out a bent shaft or double bent. I've been looking at Whiskey Jack paddles, but they are primo expensive. I'm also looking at Bending Branches on boundary water catalog, since they sell blems at about 30% discount.
Does any one have paddles they recommend or don't recommend? Also any advise on where to buy either local or online would be helpful.
Thanks for your input.

Arfish:

While the Whiskey Jack paddles are beautiful work, they are not really very sturdy: my wife has one, and the edge guards (apparently these are just epoxy, with little or no strengthening fibers) have worn through in a couple of places after about 150 miles of fairly gentle paddling.

Bending Branches makes a paddle of Black Willow (called the Espresso ST, for the straight shaft version)that is, IMHO, one of the best values in the business. The wood is as light as Cedar but has more strength and flex. The paddle design carries a fairly standard-looking BB blade and has a nicely-shaped symmetrical grip. At around $110, these are hard to beat (In fact, I've been beating one for two years and around 2000 river miles and have yet to hear it cry "Uncle.")

Regards,

al

arfish,

I am a woodworker/furniture maker on the side but at heart and have made some wooden paddles i've made (among other projects) recently.

If you are looking for something local and custom, I could make you a custom one(or more). For the price of custom work & hardwoods these days, it'd be priced b/w that of Whickey Jack & Bending Branches paddles i'm afraid. But much better quality than W.J. paddles from what Al said. I usually laminate a piece of ash in b/w pcs of cedar all the way down the paddle then another pc of ash and cherry in the blade on both sides. Then fiberglass and epoxy the blade all around. It clears out and the wood shows through nicely. If you're interested i'd be happy to send you some pics of my work.

Lucas

I've been delighted with my Bending Branches Expedition Plus. Was that the one you looked at? Very pretty, t grip, fiberglass tip big blade (8 x 20), made to use and abuse. Have one that's ten years old, another five. I'd mourn if I lost them and couldn't replace them. Used on Mulberry, Piney, Caddo, Buffalo, Nantahala, etc.

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woodystrack wrote:arfish,

I am a woodworker/furniture maker on the side but at heart and have made some wooden paddles i've made (among other projects) recently.

If you are looking for something local and custom, I could make you a custom one(or more). For the price of custom work & hardwoods these days, it'd be priced b/w that of Whickey Jack & Bending Branches paddles i'm afraid. But much better quality than W.J. paddles from what Al said. I usually laminate a piece of ash in b/w pcs of cedar all the way down the paddle then another pc of ash and cherry in the blade on both sides. Then fiberglass and epoxy the blade all around. It clears out and the wood shows through nicely. If you're interested i'd be happy to send you some pics of my work.

Lucas

I would like to see them if you have pictures ready. -Louis

I would give Peter at Mitchell Paddles a call. He hand makes paddles to order, one-at-a-time.

Link to Mitchell Paddles:
http://www.mitchellpaddles.com/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Lucas,

I am interested in your paddles. If you could send me pics I would appreciate it. If you would rather email them, just PM me and I'll send you my email address.

Thanks.

Echo Paddles or Mitchell or Jimi stix. Quite possibly the three best wood paddle makers in the world. I'd check all three out online before you buy anything. Hope your enjoying that We-no-nah.

Dri-ki wood working out of Maine (the state!!! )

I own three, two maine guide paddles (love them I use mine, the other I had painted "Will you marry me on the other stide for my finace)

and a marty Brown paddle, witch is our guest book at the wedding

Anyways, really good paddles, VERY good price,
The guy is a wood worker, and supplys all the wooden pieces for Old Town, so at the moment he is busy, But the paddles are Well worth the wait!!!

http://dri-kiwoodworking.com/

Its a husband a wife team only, so usually I call and chat with him, he gets all the specifics and then I email him again so he can have a hard coppy

if you live close to hot springs, I could show you the paddle

good luck
Bryan

I also own American Trades paddles, used them all, a beaver tail, otter tail and solo, all nice solid wood, light as well, great for flat water and a lazy day paddle

I own bending brances beaver tail and traveler and the fiance owns a sunburst, she loves her sunburst and it is a nice paddle, very light and sturdy, but $$ the beaver tail has lots and lots of control very nice stroke and light, but lots of flex! The traveler is a economy paddle, broke one already,

Out of all of them, I prefer my Dri-ki maine guide, great size, has some weight to it but does not flex, its white ash stained dark, on my solo trips thats my back up to my solo or otter tail, but with two in the boat that maine guide really holds up well, and VERY quited in the water. (i believe its due to the weight and blade design)

The Dri-Ki paddles are good looking paddles for the money. They are high up on my list, with that price. Thanks for the recommendation.

Randy, the Echo paddles are certainly unique and considering how I like to paddle in low water conditions, it would probably be the best choice for me since I have to dig in the gravel quite a bit. But the RivvStyx are probably my favorite so far.
I have been enjoying the Wenonah. It did a great job loaded up very heavy on a three day trip down the Kings.

Some thing to think about when going out, I dont know if you do or not, but I always bring two paddles for my self,

a plastic aluminum paddle and a nice one, so when im in deeper water, i use the nice one, when in low water or rappids, i use the plastic one. and if one brakes (its happened to me on a trip) you got a back up!

bryan

Arfish and Louis and whoever,

Here are pics of my stand-up paddle i made.
I haven't been able to get any good pics of the others i've made for people yet. But this paddle is my best so far.
This one is about 6ft long. Made from Mahogany, Ash, & Cherry on the edges of the blade. I've fiberglassed and epoxied the blade, then put Spar Urethane for all of the paddle except for the end of the handle, which i onlyl put wipe on tung oil so it doesn't rub your hand raw.

Check em out n let me know what you think.

Thanks for your interest!

Lucas

...and a couple more close ups. My favorite part is the Ash and Mahogany joinery on the handle making it very stout!

Lucas

You have a right to be proud of making your own stick. It is not a simple thing and much time and skills go into each one. I have a great appreciation of paddle makers having known several back east in the 70-80's. So Lucas, what does it weigh? and how wide is the blade? and how thick/thin? What type glue did you use? Inquiring minds want to know.

Been tempted to try building a stick a few times, but haven't run low enough in spares yet to actually do it.

My standup paddle for now is a kayak paddle I broke at the throat and added a "T" grip to. Steve Scarborough and Brandy Leson made the original 19 ounce 48 piece paddle for me carving the original pieces around a carbon fiber "H" beam with a twist. Carpathian elm burl wood tips covering aluminum inserts. I cried when I broke the original, and they were quite ticked at me and never built me another one that light, although they did build Susan's engagement paddle. I"ll try to remember to bring it if I know we might paddle together. I also have a New World paddle at the other end of the spectrum that was strong enough to raft guide with (and I did use it for that for a few years). Sometimes still carry it for a high water stick.

Eric Esche