Meryl Grandy

Here's an update on an old paddle failure. Back in 2012, I was working on my first sassafras paddle made from a thick 8/4 board, the only size I could source at the time. The inspiration for the paddle was a specimen in the Hudson Museum in Maine featuring a graceful, segmented grip


My blank had been crudely cut out with a wonky bandsaw, but the bulk of the work was going to be removing the stock with an axe and crooked knife.



The segmented grip was being worked down with a crooked knife and rasp...


Everything was going well when I had the urge to check the flex. The thinned out lower grip snapped at the base!


However, earlier this summer there was an informative post on paddle repairs over on CanoeTripping.net. CanotRouge (aka David G) uploaded a series of photos of a repair on his wife's favourite paddle. It had also snapped at the base of the grip and he set about repairing it with a scarf joint in a professional manner. It has apparently held up well so this was very encouraging in my own case.

Anyway, the paddle blade was yanked out of the garden where it has weathered into a antique grey patina but came out without any sign of rot. The grip was pulled out of indoor storage and the two setup on the garden shed to represent what could've been...



With a scrap piece of sassafras cut from more recent projects, a plan was hatched to try a scarf repair like David's.



Using a mitre saw, I cut the steepest angle I could manage. Here is a shot of the scarf joint clamped up...

Another fascinating paddle find has been listed by the folks over at CherryGallery.com. Their September 2016 page of current items has a listing of a paddle with a very interesting, assymetrical scroll grip.

We have handled hundreds of quality antique canoe paddles, but never one quite like this example which turned up in a downeast Maine estate. It is a birch paddle with a rolled grip finished on the ends with concentric ring buttons. The grip eases into a gracefully chamfered flat handle. The tapered blade has flared shoulders and a pronounced center ridge which is characteristics of northeastern Native designs. The old, slightly crazed finish is superb.