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Laminated Canoe Paddle

A canoe paddle built from laminated strips of contrasting hardwoods, bandsawn to an ottertail profile and hand-shaped.

Difficulty: Advanced
Time: 8–12 hrs of shop time across several days (glue-up needs full cure time)
Cost: $$

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L	Material	✓
Lamination strips Milled to a common 1.25" (32mm) thickness before laminating — this becomes the shaft's cross-section after rounding. Adjust overall length to your own chin height; 60in is a starting point, not a rule.	6	5/16" × 1 1/4" × 60"	Assorted hardwood	☐

Item	Qty	✓
Assorted hardwood strips (maple, cherry, walnut, or similar) Contrasting species are optional but traditional for a laminated paddle.	4 board ft	☐
Wood glue Enough for one full-length glue-up session.	4 oz	☐
Spar urethane finish	8 oz	☐
Fiberglass cloth and epoxy Optional tip reinforcement — skip if the paddle won't see rocky shallows.	1 kit	☐

Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.