That scale was more accurate than mine, and the two agreed. I think the shoulderless paddles are lighter than the shouldered ones. Also this one is 2" shorter than the others.

Ive found that cedar is lighter than redwood / basswood combined, or any combination of redwood accents. I was suprized at the weight of this one, because it has pine blades. I intend to get some longer lengths of pine and try a core in all pine. One never knows... And I was quite suprized and pleased at how it compared to the carbon paddle. Now if I can just duplicate it...

Also, I'm thinking of experimenting with glassing the inside of the core, and thinning down the amount of wood. I imagine a paddle with 3/16" core strips, and 1/4" cap strips, would be even lighter - and stronger,as the glass would be closer to the outside edge. The trick will be to shape it without getting too far into that core strip...

: 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 !