hi,

if you can get it , Abachi (Obeche) is a very good choice. Have used in about ten paddles over 7-8 years and it is strong, light, and resistant when you bang the stick into rocks. Have not needed a single tip repair, just sanding and a new coat of varnish or epoxy. Very easy to work with hand tools - 40 grit paper is effective.

Coulour is very light and tans into honey colour with years - would make nice contrast to some darker stripes. There is great variation in weight between planks and care must be taken to get straight grain - not easy to see as planks are very light unless aged in the sun.

greetings,

risto

: I built my first Greenland paddle under the eyes of Brian S. during
: one of his build a boat in a week classes. Now I would like to
: try it on my own.
: I am thinking of gluing up the blank. Partly since we left a lot of
: wood on the ground and also I doubt I can get WRC of the same
: quality.

: So, I was wondering if the board has a suggestion for wood that
: are: 1. available easily in the So. Cal area (big box?)
: 2. More dent resistant that WRC
: 3.fairly light weight
: thanks for your thoughts. I will be most of the work using hand
: tools. But they will be power and tools except for the
: planes--got two Stanley planes not certain of their age but they
: are not new and cost a whole lot less than new similar quality.