I just bought a Back Country inflatable canoe:
I read the various threads regarding people's experience on SOTP and thought a combination paddle would be about right to start with.
But, I don't like aluminium and plastic much! And the price was a bit steep when I looked around.
So.... I made this, a combination paddle:
double, 220 cm long
become two singles paddles, 145cm and 135cm
As you can see, the bamboo is pretty straight
The blades, cut out some left over 8mm Oak ply. A bit heavy, but free! If the paddles work nicely, I'll make another set, but more refined and lighter!
Slotting the blades and the bamboo
The joints, I inserted a dowel made of hard maple, again an off cut.
Making the handles: cardboard pattern, the cut blank and the roughed up handle inserted into the bamboo.
Using the rasp after the drive belt on the belt sander broke mid work...
That's it so far. I have just epoxied all the bits together and now waiting for the glue to go off.
What remains to be done:
Using glass tape around the bamboo at the weak points, ie, around the top of the handle, at the joints and the top of the blades as well as along the joints blades/bamboo.
Then some sanding, thinning the blades edges a bit. Thenn either varnishing or oiling.
So far, 3 hours work, including thinking it up!
I'll post more pics when it's ready.
I read the various threads regarding people's experience on SOTP and thought a combination paddle would be about right to start with.
But, I don't like aluminium and plastic much! And the price was a bit steep when I looked around.
So.... I made this, a combination paddle:
double, 220 cm long
become two singles paddles, 145cm and 135cm
As you can see, the bamboo is pretty straight
The blades, cut out some left over 8mm Oak ply. A bit heavy, but free! If the paddles work nicely, I'll make another set, but more refined and lighter!
Slotting the blades and the bamboo
The joints, I inserted a dowel made of hard maple, again an off cut.
Making the handles: cardboard pattern, the cut blank and the roughed up handle inserted into the bamboo.
Using the rasp after the drive belt on the belt sander broke mid work...
That's it so far. I have just epoxied all the bits together and now waiting for the glue to go off.
What remains to be done:
Using glass tape around the bamboo at the weak points, ie, around the top of the handle, at the joints and the top of the blades as well as along the joints blades/bamboo.
Then some sanding, thinning the blades edges a bit. Thenn either varnishing or oiling.
So far, 3 hours work, including thinking it up!
I'll post more pics when it's ready.
