Bent Shaft Canoe Paddle #2

oh how I love the look and feel of a beautiful paddle… SWEEEEEET.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Beautiful padle. What is the purpose of the bent shaft? What particular craft is it made for?

-- Jesus is Lord!

I like this one even better, love the Honduras Mohagny…

-- Sawhorse - Sulphur Springs, TX - www.sawhorseworkshop.com

I’ll be on the river in about three hours. That is a beautiful piece.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Timbers…this is beautiful. My next project (lumber is bought) is a paddle for a Stand up paddle Board. Similar to these. http://www.whiskeysurfpaddles.com/paddles.asp

What epoxy did you use? I’ll be making it with a center shaft of mahogany and the rest cedar. Did you steam bend the shaft?

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Mark: Bent paddles are for the bends in the rivers. I think maybe LOL

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I think its bent so that it looks straight after you account for the water refraction. Lol

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

You’re both wrong, I know for a fact they’re specially made for people who like to row around in circles. They sure are purdy though. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

really appreciate the kind remarks!

The bent shaft design is used in Hawaiian outrigger canoes (other places too that I’m not so familiar with). It keeps the paddle face perpendicular to the direction of travel, thus adding more power to each stroke. It is the preferred paddle design in all competitive outrigger paddling (competitors genarally use the soulless epoxy/fiberglass paddls that are lighter and tend to break though).

-- Tim Nuanes