: It sounds like 27-29 oz is reasonable for a hollow-core, using cedar,
: basswood, and ash edges. These paddles have glass tips, which I will not
: do again. I found that measuring on 1:1 ratio with water is quite
: accurate, although I see my conversion factor was a few thousandths off.
: The accuracy depends on the container in which you put the water - the
: best I can find on the shelf is marked in 50 ml incriments. I'll keep
: looking. Thanks Risto!

I measured the volume by pouring out into exactly marked cups, using for the last drops a cup the Pharmacy gave for cough syrup - 5 ml lines. Coughs are a serious business! There is some error however unless one buys a laboratory grade measuring glass - they are tall and narrow. This error would be random.

The arms of the balance will not be exactly the same, I may have 1-2 mm off, which would always give the same error. I could check this and correct with a calculator, obviously.

Then, as our friend noticed, there is the water: how warm was it? how salty? hard or soft?...

Luckily I work metric and don't care if the weight is 5 gr off.

: Superior's advertised weight is 32 if I remember right - I thought they felt
: heavy. I was talking to Mike Hanks yesterday, who commented that the
: greenlanders dont really look at the weight as an issue. Seems to me
: lighter is better, given equivilant stiffness and strength.

Lightness, even if longevity is sacrificed, might well be worth the trouble for touring, when one always carries a spare anyways...

: I'm liking this hollow-core, I think it makes good paddles.

Glad to hear that the concept is winning support. I felt a little stupid after the reception it got from some quarters a year ago when I started asking how people felt about hollow cores. I'm looking forward to hearing about any improvements you will come up with, as you go on from these first prototypes.