| Blog series by Bob Babcock | updated 312 days ago | 6 parts | 2720 reads | 55 comments total |
Part 1: What the heck is a Standup Paddleboard?
My older brother loves water sports. Lately he has taken up SUP (standup paddleboarding) because it is easier on old geezers like himself. I say that with the greatest respect….I hope I can be half as active as he is when I’m 60+. It is basically a very large surf board with a paddle and (you gueesed it) you stand up the whole time. It’s great exercise, easier to catch waves and if no waves…just fun to paddle. If you are interested my brother has a great blog for begin...
Part 2: Shaping the blade
A couple of pictures of glueing up the edges from last night and then todays lunch break. I didn’t even eat I want to finish this so bad. Spooky night operation. Edges glued up Lunch break today. The drawknife lets me remove material fast. Gotta be careful though, real easy to take too much. It also can take a almost paper thin shaving. After some sanding and some more….the back This little 3M sanding pad with their new sandpaper works really well. I cam...
Part 3: Finishing #1 - Starting #2
I started #2 today. This one I’m shooting for better performance. I’m only using five 1/4” laminations this time instead of six and only one is mahogany instead of two. No lyptus in the handle this time either. The difference in weight is very noticable already. Carving out the shark for the inlay Dry fit. The splines for the blade. I book matched the front and rear blade faces. The front is going to be cedar, the rear mahogany. The light cedar front will have a ...
Part 4: All done but the finish.
I completed the other paddle this weekend. Both are all done exept for the finishing. I’ve decided against doing any fiberglassing. I’m planning on using the West Systems epoxy with the 207 hardener and then 3 coats of Epifanes varnish. I’m going to wait for the warmer drier weather later in the week. I’ve noticed big differences in the epoxy finish depending on the weather. I didn’t take as many pictures of the process on this one…basically the same as ...
Part 5: Time for the water.
We should be paddling these next weekend at Lime Rock . My brother is going to be racing over the weekend in his Peyote MKII in the Rolex Vintage Festival. It should be a great time. Here are the finished paddles….actually I still need to varnish them but they shouldn’t change much. The one on the right is the 2nd one. Much lighter than the 1st and likely to be the one my brother chooses. Blade fronts…I really like #2…I hope it performs well with the rolled edge....
Part 6: Paddles #3 and 4 and I finally get to use my Dowelmax
I’ve decided I really like making paddles. Very creative outlet and not only is it artistically challenging but the dynamics of the blade design are really interesting as well. I’ve got 5 paddles in the works at the moment but #3 is different from my earlier ones. Straight shaft, teardrop, no laminations, dovetail. I added some geometric woodburning, somewhat primitive looking. It also has a channel, kind of the reverse of a dihedral feeding into the dovetail. Paddle #3 I...
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Blog Series
- Cape Cod Bay Challenge - 2 parts
- Morris inspired chair - 12 parts
- Sketchup Tutorials - 6 parts
- Standup Paddleboard Paddles - 6 parts
- Summer Challenge 2007 - A Bridge Too Short - 3 parts
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