Making a Beavertail and Ottertail Canoe Paddle

[@kayzinti4452]

Important Note about Boiled Linseed Oil!! BLO is linseed oil (flax oil) that has been modified with metallic 'dryers' so the oil will harden faster to form a finish with some film thickness. The more coats, the more thickness. Apply with a disposable brush, wait 10-15 minutes to see what soaks in, then wipe off the excess with a disposable rag (excess oil on the surface gets gummy and sticky). As the film hardens, it is oxidizing - reacting with oxygen in the air - which produces a bit of heat. Spread over the surface of the paddle, the thin film's heat radiates into the room harmlessly. However, if the rag is wadded up and chucked in the trash, the rag's heat is retained/reinforced and the rag can get hot enough to *catch fire* spontaneously!! This will catch the trash can on fire, which catches the shop on fire along with your new paddle. *Bad News*, in other words. To mitigate the fire risk, one can spread the rag out flat so the heat radiates, then dispose of the rag once the oil has cured and hardened. In stead, I usually get a tin can to put the rag in and burn the rag outside starting it with a lighter. To see the spontaneous combustion yourself, just wad the rag in the can outside and wait, checking the heat level occasionally. Experiencing the heat rise ones self is quite surprising the first time! Not all oils are hardening oils with this fire risk. BLO is one of them. If one objects to the metallic dryers, it is possible to heat raw linseed oil into natural BLO (yes this too can burn if it get too hot!). Here's a video I like on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJLdd4SajalneKM (There are others - search, watch and compare)

[@mainetripper]

Great information and yes I take exceptional cautions with BLO and most solvents when rags have been wetted with them. I typically lay them out flat on my basement floor until dry and then dispose of them. Sometimes I will use them as fire starters for my backyard fireplace. I don’t use BLO a ton but the result with the canoe paddles was very pleasing. Appreciate your detailed comment regarding the dangers associated with bunched up rags wetted with BLO. All that use this product should be made aware and excercise precautions. Hopefully people reading your comment will become more educated if not already aware. Thank you!

[@johnniecanoe1]

Your skills and workmanship are impressive. Nice video.

[@mainetripper]

Thank you John. While waiting for the canoe restoration filler coat in the background to cure I figured I would give the paddles a go. They came out decently. I am pleased with the performance of the paddles as well. Thank you for watching and commenting. Have a great day John!

[@bluesideup007]

Nice job! As an amateur furniture wood worker, I agree with your choice of finish. I use BLO thinned with a bit of real gum turpentine. The old adage says, " apply once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, then once a year for life".

[@mainetripper]

Appreciate you for sharing the same sentiment. I have endured too many blisters over the years paddling with varnished paddles. Oil is the way to go. Feels like silk in your hands with no blisters. Obviously more frequent maintenance is required as you pointed out but the end result is well worth it! Thank you for watching and commenting on the video. I appreciate it!

[@larrygates3737]

Nice work. They look great

[@mainetripper]

Thank you! Appreciate it!

[@stevenrogers7917]

I just discovered your site I live here in Maine myself in the Rangeley area for the last 35 years Have not been able to enjoy the lakes and rivers the way you do because of a business and a family now in retirement I have the time I'm hoping to do a little bit of what I'm watching you do thank you for the videos and inspiration

[@mainetripper]

Steven, making these videos and trying to do better each time makes it all worthwhile with comments like these. I canoe camped at a very early with my Dad and it always stuck with me. Life does interfere with the ability to do these types of activities and I can certainly understand that. I do not get out as often as I’d like either but fully plan to take advantage of the retirement years. Get out there enjoy yourself, the water, the peace and quiet. Thanks again for the kind words. Very much appreciated.

[@ddhh6552]

Your paddles turned out quite nice and beautiful. Good job

[@mainetripper]

Appreciate it! First time with the paddle making. I hope to make more in the future!

[@MeetMeOutside]

Very nice ! I’m impressed !

[@mainetripper]

Thanks Craig! Cheers man!

[@woodland8902]

Most excellent! A shame the Emerald Ash Borer is killing the White Ash.

[@mainetripper]

That’s a fact an utter shame. Need to make good of the ash wood specie while we all still can. Pleased you liked the video. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jamiejohnston4983]

Good looking paddles

[@mainetripper]

Appreciate it! This was my first time making paddles and it was an enjoyable experience. Thanks for leaving a comment! All the best!

[@jamiejohnston4983]

I'm wanting to make one myself. I just got my first canoe

[@mainetripper]

@jamiejohnston4983 That’s great! Paddles are a great winter project! Best of luck with your new canoe!

[@mattdjmorris]

Great video. I appreciate the full descriptions and solid editing. The paddles look great! I might try tung oil as a finish. What are your thoughts? I just made an Algonquin style paddle from the same book. It was my first narrow and long bladed paddle and I’m really enjoying using it. Cheers!

[@mainetripper]

Thanks for stopping by and watching the video! I am aware of several folk that will use tung oil in their paddles. It will require several coats. Making your own paddle is extremely rewarding. Glad to hear you are pleased with your own project and that it serves you well. In my most recent video I used my beaver tail video quite a bit. Cuts through water effortlessly. A good paddle makes all the difference. Thanks again for watching and leaving a comment. Very much appreciated!

[@mairnealachamu]

Lovely paddles, well done. A couple of questions: How are they weight wise? Ash seems like it might be heavy. What glue were you using? It looked like PVA glue, but I wouldn't have thought that was very strong. I would have expected epoxy glue or Aerodux, or something like that.

[@mainetripper]

When the paddles are carved down to dimension they are not heavy at all. Granted they are heavier than a cedar paddle or some other lightweight species but I was pleased with the weight result. The glue I used was Titebond III. I typically trust epoxy resins moreso than glue but carpenters glue these days is incredible. Glued my cedar strip canoe with Titebond III as well. Granted the canoe also receives several coats of epoxy inside and out but my point is the glue is very strong.

[@mairnealachamu]

@@mainetripper That's great info, thanks!

[@mainetripper]

@mairnealachamu Happy to help!

[@itsSpecialSteve]

i heard otter tail is the one to get

[@mainetripper]

If you are a solo paddler then the Ottertail option works great with less fatigue. In my opinion the beaver tail pushes more water giving more control while also minimizing fatigue but the Ottertail is definitely much easier on the shoulders between the two paddles.