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:

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.