On this website there is a link to download free Paddle Plans.
The idea is a classic shaft drawn from a range of articles by experienced canoeists allied with a laminated plywood blade.
The blades are really easy to make and very very strong in dealing with use and even abuse.
This page has a choice of double blade paddle, single blade paddle and even a plan for longer oars than you can normally find to buy – they suit boats of 4ft 6″ or 5ft beam (1350 to 1500 width at the gunwale). They were designed for the Goat Island Skiff.
This is a single paddle by David Graybeal of Harbor Woodworks, Portland, OR – a firm specialising in repairs and building of boats and parts of boats as well as more mundane items. He is also an owner of a Goat Island Skiff and and Puddle Duck rigged from the OzRacer plans.
David said on my forum …
I don’t know if everyone has noticed – but Mik has plans for paddles.
I started a pair for my own personal use several years ago – and set them aside. I just today finished them off. All but the varnishing. They were quite simple to build, with the usual detailed instructions.
Here is the slideshow on Flickr
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