C-Forum

A nice sharp draw knife is a joy to use:) I find continually flipping the piece I'm working on helps me keep it mostly even on both sides. My first paddles were pretty rough, mostly as they were "paddle shaped objects" that the (very) young kids could play with / dip in the water to feel like they w...

Totally clear on that. I'm impressed by the amount of wood you removed from the 5/4 using the draw knife. Now, Roy...Roy is evidently good with the bow drill.

The image is one Roy posted of a drilled out plastic paddle, not a wood one. I'll try and track an image of the wood ones down - I couldn't find it yesterday (too many images of paddling, skiing, and of course kids!)

You're good with that draw knife.

It started out as a rough sawn true 1"; if purchasing finished lumber you may need to purchase "5/4" depending on what shaft diameter you want (with the shaft the thickest part that is where to start).

Adam, I love this. What thickness board did you use? ...standard 3/4" or 1"?

Here is my small and light-weight Carlisle blade. Physics can tell one how much those holes alter strength and water-resistance...but, there is no predicting whether kids will tolerate such an oddity.

Roy

Exactly. A Werner Bandit or Nantahala with half a blade remaining would be ideal to cut down. I've been offered a Bandit. I need a couple more, in Atlanta, if anyone nearby has a seriously worn out Werner. I tried reducing a new Mohawk paddle. It still weighed too much after removing a lot of its or...

I too was thinking along the lines of Sir Adam--find a broken or used ww paddle, trim the blade smaller and cut down the shaft to the appropriate length.

You should contact all the ww paddle manufactures and ask them if they make kid sized ww paddles.

After looking for a bit I gave up and made my own - a pine board, traced the shape I wanted based on down-sizing an adult paddle, cut the basic shape out with a saw, then an hour or so with a draw knife followed up with some sanding and a few coats of poly. I've made 5 so far as the kids have grown ...

Please recommend a youth canoe paddle.
It has to be light and have a smaller blade than an adult paddle.
A 48" Bending Branches Twig would do nicely but BB stopped making them.
There seems to be a hole in the market between little kids' and adults' paddles.

Tom

For sale: Kokatat SuperNova kid's drysuit, size Youth XL. Latex wrist gaskets, fabric socks, punch-through neoprene neck gasket, over the shoulder T-Zip entry. Kokatat's sizing guide claims 5'2" to 5'6" for height range, but I think the upper end ...

... designs before too... Massive? Millbrook in the Berry years did a Youth C1. I'm sure there have been others, but I think this may the first plastic one.

... all our gear? 4x NRS Otter 130 Self Bailing Raft w/ Middle Thwart. 21x NRS Havoc Livery Helmet. 24x NRS Big Water PFD Adult. 10x NRS Big Water PFD Youth. 4x NRS Carlisle Guide Paddle. 23x NRS Carlisle Outfitter Paddle. 3x NRS 5" Barrel Pump. 2x NRS Standard Rescue Throw Bag. 2x NRS 25' Bowline ...

68 now. I have done lots of OC and gave C1'ing a good try but couldn't resolve the flexibility issue. I also enjoyed rafting ... ear plugs. Can't blame that on age though. Just the same bad judgement I had in youth. e