> I've been working on building Greenland-style paddle according to the
> dimensions described at http://seacanoe.org/grnpadle.htm and it's almost
> ready for finishing. I have a couple of questions:

> 1. I used what I had on-hand which was a clear piece of Aspen I picked-up
> at Home Depot. It seems like it will work ok. It's pretty flexible, in
> fact maybe a little too flexible. I hate for it to break, so I thought of
> covering the blades with some 2oz glass, but that seemed like overkill. I
> thought I could run an inch wide strip of glass down the center of each
> blade and that would give it a bit more rigidity and reduce the chances of
> it breaking. Any thoughts?

> 2. I could use epoxy to waterproof the paddle, but I understand a less
> slippery surface is more appropriate. What's a good coating for doing
> this?

> Thanks for any suggestions.

> Ross

A different suggestion --- from the George Ellis school of Greenland paddles: leave it unfinished. George has spread his ideas from his Florida base throughout the Chesapeake Bay, and many of us who have built and regularly use Greenland sticks never finish them at all. Most wouldn't pass the "hang it on the living room wall" test, but all work well, are light, smooth to the touch (with an occasional light sanding with a very fine sanding sponge), give a good grip in cold weather, and, most importantly, are maintenance-free. If you finish the surface of a paddle and get a ding in it, water can get down inside the wood and rot it --- says George --- and you'll have to spend a lot of time keeping it up. It will also be a little heavier --- although an unfinished paddle will soak up a little water and be a tad heavier at the end of a long paddle. (At least that's my excuse.) Most of mine are red cedar, and, when wet, look pretty good. Kinda plain when dry. But I've never (eight years of "never") had a solid paddle fail on me --- only one where I laminated a classic stress riser which fell when I rose one day in some surf. Will they break? Sure, but that's why you make lots and lots! But try yours out first without finishing it --- see how you like it as an ethnic original; then decide if you really want to finish it at all.

Check out the web page.

Jack