Sometimes a clean slate, like a basswood paddle blade, is the perfect substrate for a non-traditional final finish. In my experience, printed cotton fabric provides the matrix of absorbent material that epoxy wants to saturate and bond with. All these paddles are years old now and are withstanding the test of time quite well. For many paddlers, tradition and performance are the motivation behind choosing … Continue reading Color on Wood
Some days are unexpectedly better than anticipated. This day was one of them. Perfect clear cool water, lots of birds singing their joy of living, and a quiet stretch of my favorite paddling place. Also my kid. My wife and I both tried to get time with each kid outside and doing something. Strange, but most of my days were outside on the water. Hopefully, … Continue reading Fall Day Slow River = Perfect
I don’t know much about photography, but I do know that every morning and evening there is a few skinny minutes when the light is ‘just right’. It’s magic light. Really it’s light from a natural source at a low angle so there are few shadows. But I like ‘magic light’ better. I think this lighting voodoo gets stronger as the days get shorter in … Continue reading a Splash of Magic
It may not rise to the level of peanut butter and chocolate, but pine and cotton work just fine as paddle blades. My so-called ‘creative side’ favors the machine made paisley in all its many colors and patterns. My eye also likes the wild patterns found in nature, in this case a pair of bookmatched knots and the surprising revelation of ‘birds eye’ upon slicing … Continue reading Birds Eye and Paisley Paddles
Piling on to the prior shaft strip entry, the image above illustrates another option for building a unique paddle shaft. This is a redwood paddle, except for the first strip which is some sort of cedar. That first strip in this stack, the one the blade pieces attach to is wider than the strips above it. Under my hand, at the top of the blade, … Continue reading Wide and Narrow Together
A fine summer day. The kids are home and the water called. Off we went to the Wisconsin River for a simple day trip. Put in at the Sauk City bridge. Take out at Honey Creek at the base of the amazing Ferry Bluff. Paddle boards are flexible beasties. You can stand. Or sit. Which means you can use a long paddle. Or a short … Continue reading Short Paddle Long Board
It is the middle of the season that most people are out paddling. Which is what we did over the July 4th weekend. Summer is also a time for projects in the garage. So – back the car out, find your tools and build a paddle! It takes some wood, a few tools, and a bit of time, but building your own paddle is entirely … Continue reading Building a SUP paddle
I do love a wood paddle. Add in a bent shaft and a comfortable handle and it’s even better! Best of all though, is that each paddle project is a chance to build something unique and all your own. There’s no right or wrong, nor are there any federal guidelines. Some in the paddling world focus on weight and performance metrics, but when you only … Continue reading Start with an Idea!
I often wonder how many people (hopefully they are paddlers) wistfully look at a paddle kit and then go somewhere else – because while they are interested in paddling and in building a paddle, they lack a garage with a workbench and/or the tools needed to complete their desired paddle building project. If you are one of those people, then a possible solution just might … Continue reading A Solution for the Problem of Tools
a pleasant Labor Day weekend floating the Wisconsin River Continue reading Down the River
paddles kits boards 