Paddle replacement (and then some)

A rare free Saturday without horses to do or other responsibilities allowed me to hide out in the boat shop all day. I wanted to replace the Catalpa paddle that I'd lost this summer and I got a little carried away.



While I had the bandsaw outside, I cut up a scrap piece of Cherry and a Sassafras 1x8 as well, sanded them to the pattern lines with the oscillating belt sander, (shaped the grips with it also) and went inside where it was warm to make some shavings with the plane and spokeshave.



I put in a pretty full day but wound up with 5 beavertails ready to oil. 1 Cherry, 2 Sassafras and 2 Catalpa. Can't wait to take a couple of them North next summer. (BTW: I'll have to come up with a better bench. Clamping to the shaper was ok but it's top-heavy and wound up walking around the shop too much)



Current plans are to oil tomorrow and I'll post weights afterward (the Catalpa is amazingly light. It'll be interesting to see how it holds up to tripping if I can keep from losing it)

Not a bad day’s work.

A good way to spend a Saturday! You should have some fine paddles out of that batch.

I have never worked with Catalpa wood. Does it work easily?

Good work. You are fast. Those will all probably be fine for lake paddling. I would be reluctant to use a single piece paddle with flat grain on a river. I like laminated paddles with tight grain and quarter sawn lumber for tougher conditions.

I have never worked with Catalpa wood. Does it work easily?

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It was very hard to find boards but it was easy to work with. It planed well & sanded easily although the sanding dust was like very fine talcum powder (mask highly recommended). It's extremely light, the 63" beavertail (36" from grip to throat & 27" blade) weighs 22 oz before oiling. Flex seems similar to Sassafras and I'm optimistic that it'll become a favorite.

I prefer a shorter blade in shallow, rocky rivers but I'm very interested to see how Catalpa holds up to smacking some rocks. (not to worry ppine, I'm not opposed to breaking them & adding to the firewood supply. I took 4 on the last trip and that still seems about right even though I brought 3 home)