I cracked my WRC Lumpy greenland paddle and, based on a reference that Bill (the maker of Lumpy paddles) gave me to http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/TechniqueForumArchive60_config.pl/read/66820 , I had decided to go that route. More details here too http://www.blackdogkayaks.com/anduril.html

I decided to use a full-length carbon-kevlar sleeve over the entire paddle. The wood core will be providing the strength. So that layup will be very lightweight, ideally. The crack is more like a splinter so once glued back together it should be as strong as new and it was strong enough (I hit a stone with some force, which caused the crack and I plan to avoid that kind of use in the future -;), but I also hope the reinforcing by the sleeve and finished tips to make the paddle sturdier too).

Can someone provide specific recommendation (brand/how-to use) for what to use to UV-protect the finish? I have Raka epoxy that I plan to use for the sleeve and I plan to use heat-shrink from solarcomposites to sqeeze out the epoxy. So I can potentially do a one-step cure if there is a good way to mix something with the Raka epoxy to make it UV resistant. Or is there another way to achieve UV resistance after the sleeve/epoxy has cured to a smooth finish? I hate sanding so I hope not to have to do much if any, except for the very ends of the tips of the paddle.

Which brings me to my second question: I'm somewhat concerned about how to achieve thin and well shaped tips, given that kevlar gets fuzzy when sanded/cut and I will have to do that at the two ends of the paddle. Any ideas?

Thanks!