Paddle #3

[stoneaxe]

Some progress pics.

This is a straight shaft teardrop with a dovetail. I've done some "primitive" woodburning for effect.

[linter]

i love that one, bob.  when are you going to go into production???

[motopilot]

Wow very nice paddle.  Great job with the woodburning.

[river]

Wow love your paddle work.   

[stoneaxe]

Thanks for the kind words.

I don't know about production but I am seriously considering producing a limited amount of custom paddles. I don't want it to become tedious. I'd prefer to build them to suite the individual person and purpose. I think that a quiver of paddles is just as necessary as a quiver of boards. I see a good all around paddle, a pure surfer, and a pure cruiser/down winder for me. I also want to do inlay and/or burning on most if not all of them. Hehe...I'll sell a few paddles and buy a few boards. Gotta get one for the wife at least.

I still have a little experimenting to do before I go there though. I have 5 in the pipeline right now. A big part of the enjoyment for me is the design process.

[stoneaxe]

Uugh....what a dog. It paddled horribly. I'm going to completely reshape it. The whole float idea was a complete bust. The other one I just finished was awesome though.... . I'll get some pictures posted soon.

[steamroller]

whats the dovetail for???...just to look cool...it looks cool

[DavidJohn]

"Uugh....what a dog. It paddled horribly. I'm going to completely reshape it. The whole float idea was a complete bust."

What float idea?

Why did it paddle horrible?

The outline shape looks good..Did you put any dihedral shape into the face of the blade?

DJ

[ECSUP]

Hey Stoneaxe-

I think your new paddle looks awesome. When does it work for you to have me come down and pick up the other paddle?
ecsup

[stoneaxe]

I'm still playing with blade shapes. The dovetail is supposed to be like the dihedral in that it helps prevent flutter. This one definitely didn't flutter. But the shaft is probably too heavy for that anyway. It does look cool.

The float idea was something particular to me. I have a balance problem that can be bad on some days. I was thinking a blade with a lot of volume might help as something to lean on for those days. Not! The pictures don't show it but the blade is about 1-1/4" thick at the center and 3/4" at the edges. Made for a very clumsy feel. It also felt very short after using my #4 paddle. I'll keep this outline but probably cut the dovetail deeper. The current face shape is like a wooden soup spoon with a channel down the middle. When reshaped it will have a typical dihedral that blends into the channel and the dovetail.

EC ...give my cell phone a call and we can discuss what works. I was going to deliver, only fair..... You're going above and beyond on the reserve and shipping. Either way we need to get together on the water too. BTW, I was going to ask if you minded being recognized for the winning bid. I wanted to announce it on the forums et al. I guess since we are discussing it you don't mind    but let me know