> 1) When you make a feathered paddle with an oval grip, does the main axis
> of the oval cross-section change orientation from one end of the handle to
> the other? If yes, then does the middle part of the handle have a round
> cross-section or a spiral?

It changes orientation with the angle of feather. An unfeathered paddle has no change in oval orientation; a 70* feathered paddle has the oval change orientation 70*. It's pretty easy with the bent laminations to keep everything straight in your mind. For the scarfed shafts, I'll leave Nick's book to tell that story. It's not intuitive, but once you read his paddlemaking chapter, it makes a lot of sense.

> 2) Anyone out there who has compared the feel of an oval vs round grip and
> who has a definite preference? I'd be interested in your comments.

I'm definitely sold on oval shafts. Greenland shafts often have rectangular cross-section shafts. I feel that round shafts are next to useless, because the orientation of the blade is not intuitive from the feel of the shaft. (And you need to know where the blade is without looking for a decent brace or roll)

It doesn't have to be a pronounced oval--mostly round is quite comfortable, but there must be enough of an oval to smoothly index in the oval of your thumb and forefinger.

Shawn