Charity paddles- what length do you think?

While I'm waiting for fiberglass, I've decided to clean up another project: Awhile back, one of my horse customers saw some of the wooden paddles in the back of my truck and wants to buy one to be auctioned at the local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation fundraiser at the end of January (who even knew we had a local chapter?).

I'm curious what something like that might go for & if my craftsmanship is good enough to sell so I've agreed to make 2 of them for her. I'm thinking one Cherry & one Sassafras and she wants them shiny like display pieces so I'll finish those two in gloss urethane. When they're put out to bid, I'll include the option to exchange for the same paddle in an oil finish in case someone wants to actually use it (maybe you can tell by my Ranger but, IMO, "display only" pieces are, by definition, useless).

They'll both be beavertails (my preferred pattern and seems like a very recognizable and traditional canoe paddle shape) but how long should they be? Maybe it's irrelevant since the ones auctioned will be shiny, useless, wall hangers and, if they're to be exchanged for useable paddles I could make one to the winning bidder's specs?

What do yinz think?

I'd go with 60 inches or close to it. I think that's a good traditional length. I don't know what you should charge. If it was to benefit the starving children I'd go on the cheap side. I don't know what the they are going to do with the proceeds, but if it's to support themselves I'd go high. Like at least a hundred a piece, and that wouldn't even be worth your time, but it is a charity. It would be interesting to know what the high bid is.

Those RMEF fundraisers are pretty swanky events. My good friend and a tripping partner used to be heavily involved with it. Unfortunately at the last one he attended he crapped his pants. I think he switched over to mule deer after that.

Yup 60 inches is a good generic length.

Awesome, thanks for the input. Auction is Jan 31st and she's asked me to attend the dinner (should be interesting if it's the upscale event that Al suggests it is).

I'll update to let you know what they go for.

From what you’ve shown us with your paddles, I am sure your craftsmanship will be fine.

When you attend the dinner make sure to wear your dress flannel shirt.

They'll get hung on a wall, and the new owners will call it an oar...ha! When I make a paddle for someone, I always take it
out and use it before giving it to them, even if only for a hundred yards, because then it becomes a "canoe paddle".
And by all means, the dress flannel shirt...and DEET is the perfect cologne.

ScottS said:

When I make a paddle for someone, I always take it out and use it before giving it to them, even if only for a hundred yards, because then it becomes a "canoe paddle".

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I agree, one of my favorite paddles is a highly decorated one that is on display at the Peabody Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts as shown below. One of the best parts is that it shows evidence of significant wear indicating some serious use before being sold to a collector and put on display. The link below has more details.

Benson

jdeerfoot said:

From what you’ve shown us with your paddles, I am sure your craftsmanship will be fine.

When you attend the dinner make sure to wear your dress flannel shirt.

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I was thinking a cowboy hat and bolo tie and fancy cowboy boots. I think flannel might be too casual, but I didn't you can get a "dress" one.

I like the flannel & Deet combo. The cowboy hat, bolo & fancy boots would feel about as real to me as wearing a tux. (ball cap & barn boots would be ok. Maybe with flannel & Deet)

Although it's in the next town over, I suspect enough people will know me... maybe I'll just go straight from the barn.

I fished some Cherry & Sassafras from the overhead of the barn this afternoon & I'll need to get some more Sassafras cut up soon. I was sure I had some 4/4 boards left but all I could find readily was 5/4. (also found some Apple which I'd forgotten that I had... wonder if it would make a nice wall hanger / useable paddle?

Gamma1214 said:

also found some Apple which I'd forgotten that I had... wonder if it would make a nice wall hanger / useable paddle?

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I have a hiking staff that I fashioned from an apple limb. I'd definitely consider making a paddle from that if I had a piece of appropriate dimension.

For the RMEF banquet - Filson hat & duster; Nick's Packers.

3 to 5 miles maybe?

While waiting for glass for the canoe build, I caught a nice day, figured I'd clear myself of the lifting restrictions (even though I skipped med school) and carried the bandsaw outside (didn't want extra dust inside after I'd cleaned up). I traced out paddles from my beavertail pattern, adjusted shaft length to 60 inches and cut out 4 paddles staying slightly wide of the pattern lines.




The Cherry, I'm sure will yield 2 nice paddles (and probably one laminated paddle from the scraps). I'm really struggling to find nice Sassafras lately and I thought I would get just one from a 1x8x8' but, in the end, I couldn't even get that as the rotten wood extended into the blade area too far. Maybe I'll make a kid's paddle (I've got a granddaughter due in April, might as well plan ahead, right?), maybe I'll toss that board on the burn pile.





I grabbed the other Sassafras board and had better luck. One paddle will have a couple of small knots in the blade so it may wind up being the varnished wall-hanger. The other should make a nice useable paddle.



In all, I've got 4 paddle blanks cut out. Rain permitting, I'll get the oscillating sander after them tomorrow.

Looking good. From what I can see, I wouldn't be concerned about those knots causing a problem. Also, all else being equal, I would probably keep the lightest ones for myself.