Core Skills: Paddle Making

This is a five day class ending on Friday

Join seasoned kayak designer and instructor Eric Schade for one of our most asked for classes. Over the course of the week, you will have the opportunity to construct paddles using two different techniques. The first will be to carve a paddle out of a plank of solid wood.  Making paddles this way is a very hands-on, traditional carving project using a band saw and hand tools.  The second technique is to laminate multiple layers of thin wood into a blank which is then carved.  It allows the use of contrasting decorative woods and custom shapes.

The paddles you make can be either for a canoe or a kayak.  The carved kayak paddle will be of the Greenland style narrow bladed paddle, the laminated paddle can either be the standard style or Greenland style. While you might not be ready to finish your paddle by the end of the week, Eric will share his best practices for a finish as well as maintenance and use of your new, custom paddles.