: Thanks guys, that helps - Any tips on what wood to use for a Greenland Style
: Paddle ? I think Cedar covered with Lacquer would be the lighest - what do
: you guys think ??

It's light, strong, has good flex characteristics and it's naturally rot resistant. It's also fairly inexpensive. A paddle made from a cedar 2x4 costs ~$15.

As for finishes, I've been playing Watco, boiled linseed oil and tung oil, with somewhat mixed results. It seems most people prefer varnish and I'll probably experiment with that next.

With cedar, no finish is necessary, if you prefer the traditional natural look. This is especially useful for paddles that are carried as spares, as the unfinished wood will not scratch your deck as you store or deploy the paddle. I plan to do this when I make a storm paddle as a spare

One thing I've found to be very worthwhile for my main paddle is to 'glass the edges of the tips and epoxy coat the last 2-3 inches of the blades. This is the area that takes the most punishment in use and the extra protection is well worth the minimal time and effort it takes. Greenlanders do the same thing by using bone tips.

Once I'm satisfied that I've found the geometry that's best for me, I plan to try a fully epoxy finished paddle. The plan is to use just enough epoxy to fill the grain and seal the wood, as I'm not fond of the shiny look. This may be a good application for CPES (clear penetrating epoxy sealer).