: As you can see in the picture, one of these paddles is ready for finishing.
: My question is do I have to coat it with epoxy first then sand that to a
: dull finish then varnish the paddle? That's how I did my kayak. Can I skip
: the epoxy and go right to the varnish and still get a great finish?

Couldn't bring up your picture, but Steve had a good idea about just oiling it. Check out WATCO Danish oils and apply as directed. Several coats, applied as directed will give you a nice, natural look and feel to the wood. It will probably have to be re-oiled every year or two, depending on use, but it's a good alternative to resin, glass, varnish and the like.

Rehd