Paddle no 8

The paddle is finnised with three layers Colean.
I´m very satesfied.

Paddle no 7

The paddle was originally too large and unwieldy. I have now lighten it about 300 grams . The weight is now 1265 grams. Since this is my first paddle, It will do. Now I´m waiting for one or two layers Colean so it will not crack.

Paddle no 6

At last, my Greenland paddle are done!

I have shaped it and sanding it all weekend. The paddle is oiled 3 times with Herdins teak oil, it was what I got at home.

You can always refine it but to be my first paddle I ever made, I'm happy.

Paddle no 5

The work on my first Greenland paddle continues slowly. The basic shape is now appointed and ready to refine. Someone wrote somewhere that one should not make paddeln too fat and I have really followed, perhaps a little too well.

A question that arose was how to match paddeln with a skin on frame kayak, a strip built kayak is easier to match.




I must say I am quite happy with the blade so far.

I must also mention the site with a fully sovereign video with Matt Johnson on how to make your own Greenland paddle.

Paddle no 4

Then I finally got to start shaping my first paddle.
Fun but really tough when you do not have good tools, I should buy me a really good plane.
It may also be the purchase of a grinding wheel to angle milled or rather it must be purchased several grinding wheels.
Even a craft knife tape from Svante Djärv must be bought. Taking aboute Svante Djärv, I can only offer my major recommendations according to my opinion one of Swedens best skilled knife makers.

Paddle no 3

My Greenland paddle begins to take shape.
All parts except the tip of the paddeln is glued.
The next step is to mount the tip of my first paddle I both made and owned.

Paddle no 2

I have started whit the paddle.

This paddle is supposed to be inspired by the Greenland paddles. As it looks now there will be a spine / shaft of two 15 mm western red cedar with a 5 mm pine between. Indeed paddle blade is built on the 5 mm poplar then 15 mm western red cedar to
completed by about 5 mm light aspen on the edge and about 50 mm at the end of the paddeln. All of it glued with the same epoxy I glued the hull of the kayak with.



I have not made up my mind whether it will be marked transition between leaf and stem, or a smoother transition.

Paddle no 1

Suddenly I realized that I need a paddle to the kayak. After much surfing I arrived at two good examples: Making a West Greenland Paddle by Chuck Holst and Vest greenland pagaj by Thomasson design. I see no difference between the two except that the latter has a tip that the thinner blade with a concave profile provides more speed and quieter time.

Western red Cedar is not cheap in Sweden $ 160 for 365 x 5 x 20 cm. I could have got a bit of a lumberyard in the vicinity for about $ 120 for approximately 400 x 5 x 12 cm, but then they would order only, in other words, no chance to choose annual ring or knot-free.