Some of you may remember many moons ago I started an experimental paddle for my mate Dan. The paddle was made with Pauwlonia and Balsa and the experiment was to be make a paddle from wood that was extremely light but still strong. I decided to use uni directional carbon tape on the underside and blade to strengthen and stiffen it. Without this the balsa made the whole thing a little too flexy.

Anyway I gave it to Dan to finish off and the paddle just sat there for months doing nothing. Making paddles over Christmas when you have people waiting for surfboards is a problem apparently. hahah.

SO, I took it back again and it is almost finished.

Just to recap, I have added the pics as below to show the progress back from the beginning.

I have final sanded and filler coated now so will probably be complete today.

Here is where we're at today: Only bottom as resin is still going off and can not flip for a little while.







And before:

I am hesitant on which one is the right orientation for the T grip. The Kialoa paddles come with a T grip that is asymmetrical so one side is straight and the other has a curve. I am not sure if the curve should fit the palm or the fingers. Which one of the 2 options is the best? I found that fitting the fingers is more comfortable but it seems that Kialoa recommends making the curved size fit the palm as it is shown on this tutorial on how to glue it to the paddle: http://www.kialoa.com/documents/t-topSUPWEBphotoguide.pdf

Lacey Posted something the other day about liking the feel of his wooden paddles on the OC1.

A while ago I made an extremely light Pauwlonia, Balsa and Cedar SUP paddle for my mate Dan McDonald of DMS Surfboards. The deal was I made it, he glassed it. He has been too busy to do it so I am taking over.

The experiment is: Can you make a Balsa laminated shaft stiff while being stupidly light???

For this I will use Uni Directional Carbon tape glassed onto the back of the shaft with epoxy resin along with some other bits and pieces.

Below are photos of the paddle, I will post more along the way as this one takes place with weights etc etc.