How to Make a Wooden Inuit Kayak Paddle
Building your own Kayak paddle is a relatively simple project which requires a few tools, a little time and a willingness to experiment. Traditional paddles tend to be narrower and lighter than conventional manufactured paddles, and can offer significant physical benefits to those struggling with shoulder or wrist issues. There is nothing quite as satisfying as paddling a boat you built yourself with a paddle you built yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 8 foot 2x4, preferably cedar or spruce. You can use other woods but the paddle will probably be a bit heavier. Spruce and cedar have the highest strength to weight ration of any wood readily available.
- Band saw
- ...or
- Table saw and jig saw
- Random orbital sander
- ...and/or
- block plane and spokeshave
- Danish oil or other oil based sealer
Instructions
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1
Determine the length of the paddle that you will need. Stand and hold the 2x4 in front of you. Reach as high up the board as you can with your feet flat on the ground. Where the ends of your fingers would curl over the top of the board is the ideal length for your custom paddle. Cut the paddle to length.
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2
Mark out the shape of the paddle. The ends should curve, and the blades should carry 2 to 3 feet up the length of the board. Take care to mark both sides in the same way, or you will have an unbalanced paddle. Remember that the Inuit hand carved their paddles to what felt and looked best to them. Each paddle was a unique reflection of the paddler who created it. Look at some photos for ideas on shaping, or if you have a friend who has a paddle you really like, borrow it and use it as a model to copy the shape.
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3
Turn the board on its side and mark the taper. Cut out the taper using the bandsaw or table saw. Then cut out the curves of the blade using the bandsaw or jig saw.
You can also do much of this step with a block plane and spoke shave, or if you want to be really authentic use a sharp knife. But the process takes much longer.
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4
Use a spokeshave to round the edges and form the handle section to where it comfortably fits your hand. You can also do this work with a random orbital sander using a coarse grit paper.
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5
Fine sand the finished paddle until it is extremely smooth. Work down in sandpaper grits from coarse to a 220 grit fine.
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6
Seal the paddle with an oil based sealer such as danish oil. Do not use polyurethane as it can develop fine cracks when flexed. These cracks will allow water into the wood, which will cause mold and eventually rot.
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7
Allow the sealer to cure.
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1
Tips & Warnings
It is fine to take the rough sanded paddle out and try it. After paddling a bit you may want to make some changes. It is common to want to change the shape or size of the handle or the length. After trying, wait for the wood to dry, make modifications and then re-sand and seal.
If you make the paddle too long, it is easy to shorten. But if you make it too short, you get to start over with a new one. If you have a wider kayak, and some run as wide as 34 inches, you will probably want a longer paddle. This is personal preference, but for kayaks over 24 inches, add the same length to the paddle as the width of the kayak is over 24 inches.
Always use an approved flotation device when paddling a kayak.
