How to Build a Kayak Paddle

You know you're a full-blooded kayaker the first time you hit the water with a beautiful, polished and handcrafted kayak paddle that you have made with your own hands. You may stick with your composite and titanium paddle for day-to-day hard work in rocky streams and chutes, but your handmade beauty will be the one you pick up when you glide into camp in front of your fellow kayakers. There's nothing quite as satisfying as that. Here's how to make one.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

One 10-foot 2x2 ash, hickory or other suitable hardwood Two or three hardwood planks of different woods Sabre saw Power sander and/or planer Bungee cords or furniture clamps Gorilla Glue or other strong waterproof or epoxy wood glue Rasp
One 10-foot 2x2 ash, hickory or other suitable hardwood
Two or three hardwood planks of different woods
Sabre saw
Power sander and/or planer
Bungee cords or furniture clamps
Gorilla Glue or other strong waterproof or epoxy wood glue
Rasp

Step 1

Cut 2x2 to the total length you want your paddle to be.

Step 2

Cut and arrange pieces for blade.

Cut hardwood planks to lengths you want your blade to be.

Step 3

Arrange planks as shown, glue the seams and press together. To add strength and beauty, alternate some narrow strips with the wood grain running perpendicular to the grain of the wider pieces (not shown).

Step 4

Wrap bungee cords around the blade or clamp with furniture clamps.

Clamp or bungee the pieces together. Let sit overnight and cure as recommended by glue manufacturer.

Step 5

Assembled blades for flat (unfeathered) blade.

Repeat step 3 on the opposite end of the shaft. Turn the blade so it is perpendicular if you want to feather the blade, otherwise clamp them both flat.

Step 6

Feathered blade untrimmed.

Cut the blades to the final shape you want for them using a saber saw or band saw

Step 7

Feathered blades trimmed.

Shape and smooth the paddle and shaft to its final shape using a rasp, planer and sander.

Step 8

Shape the blades, throat and shaft with rasp.

Sand paddle smooth in stages using gradually finer grades of sandpaper and steel wool.

Step 9

Stain the paddle and allow to dry.

Step 10

Apply thin coats of marine varnish or clear coat, rubbing with fine-grade steel wool between coats.

Step 11

Polish kayak paddle to high sheen and go show it off to your friends.

Tips & Warnings

Take your time shaping the blade. You can make a quick template for trimming the blade to a shape you want with butcher paper and a magic marker and a paddle blade you like. Use thin coats of clear finish over stain.

Take your time shaping the blade.

You can make a quick template for trimming the blade to a shape you want with butcher paper and a magic marker and a paddle blade you like.

Use thin coats of clear finish over stain.

Because paddles spend a lot of time in the water, apply at least three layers of finish coat. Avoid varnish stains or furniture stains; use marine-specific finishes applied separately from any stain you may use.

Because paddles spend a lot of time in the water, apply at least three layers of finish coat.

Avoid varnish stains or furniture stains; use marine-specific finishes applied separately from any stain you may use.

Resources

Article Written By Tom King

Tom King published his first paid story in 1976. His book, "Going for the Green: An Insider's Guide to Raising Money With Charity Golf," was published in 2008. He received gold awards for screenwriting at the 1994 Worldfest Charleston and 1995 Worldfest Houston International Film Festivals. King holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Southwestern Adventist College.

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