Don, you've just got to figure out why one set of strips is lighter, and another makes for two-three oz heavier paddle. How could one tell this in advance, at the lumber yard?

Anyway, congratulations. Sounds like you won't be able to make them fast enough, once word gets out !

: I just came back from Alder Creek, having left the first few paddles for
: them.

: My lightest one, in cedar, pine, and walnut, weighs in at 24 ouncez. While I
: was there, we weighed a Superior carbon - 26 ounces!!! Two ounces
: heavier!!!

: I couldnt believe it, but it's true. I could feel it, holding the two
: paddles.

: The other three were one ounce heavier than carbon. Superior's wood one
: weighed in at 44 ounces, same as my 'Rock'. Even my heaviest hollow-cored
: ones are significantly lighter than that.

: This paddle is 87" long, no shoulders, with a loom that's 1-1/8 x
: 1-1/2". Hollow cored, with epoxy and varnish for a finish. It has
: cedar core, cedar cap strips, pine blades, and walnut edges. Looks great,
: too. I told them if they didnt like it I'd be happy to trade it for a
: different one...

: I'm currently looking to go to a glassed inner surface on the core, and
: eliminate the varnish by using a soaked oil finish. Hopefully there wont
: be a weight penalty.