What is the best finish for a canoe paddle?

Unlike some other oils, Pure Tung Oil has a long lifespan and doesn’t darken your wood, but if you want a darker hue, consider using Dark Tung Oil for finishing canoe paddles.

What kind of paddle should I get for my canoe?

A straight canoe paddle should be between 52″ and 60″ long. A bent-shaft canoe paddle should be between 48″ in 52″ long because of their shorter and wider blades. The most common canoe paddles are 57″, 60″, and 54″ long. Canoe paddles are usually available in length increments of 3 or 2 inches.

What is the best wood for a canoe paddle?

The best wood species for paddles are both strong and lightweight. Mike’s go-to choice is basswood. Other popular options include white cedar and Alaskan yellow cedar. These woods tend to have less character to their grains, but they are light- weight and easy to shape.

What length should my canoe paddle be?

52″ to 60″
Length. Most canoers require a paddle in the 52″ to 60″ range; sizes are typically offered in 2″ increments. Bent-shaft paddles are generally shorter due to their shorter, wider blades; common lengths are 48″ to 54″.

What do you coat wooden oars with?

I would use a marine varnish, thin the first coat about 10\%, add a full strength 2nd coat, sand with 320 grit when dry, tack and add a 3rd coat. I wasn’t happy with just linseed oil on my oars when I first built mine. They got a refinishing 3 years later with thinned varnish, then 3 coats of full strength varnish.

Is tung oil good for paddles?

We do recommend Badger Wood Oil for maintaining your solid wood paddles, but you can use a fine quality Tung or Teak Oil Finish product or even boiled linseed oil instead. For an extra smooth finish, “wet sand” the paddle while oiling using a fine wet proof sandpaper, a 320 grit will do.

What length paddle do I need?

Kayak Paddle Sizing Guide

How do you know what size paddle to get?

Measure Your Body Height Then, compare it to the width of your kayak and find the correct corresponding measurement. If you are 5 feet 5 inches or shorter and your kayak is… 23 inches wide or smaller: Try a paddle that is 210 centimeters long. 24 to 32 inches wide: Try a paddle that is 220 centimeters long.

What wood is used for oars?

Wood oars are made from softwoods (pines, fir & spruces) and hardwoods (ash, oak & basswood). Generally softwoods are fast growing, and in comparison hardwoods like oak and ash grow very slowly. The softwoods and basswood are light but lack the strength and flexibility of ash.

How do I choose a paddle?

To choose a kayak paddle, you need to consider four basic ideas:

1. Length: Your boat width and your height determine your paddle length.
2. Materials and price: Lightweight materials improve performance, but add to a paddle’s price.
3. Blade choice: Your paddle’s blade size and shape affect its overall efficiency in the water.

How do you varnish a canoe paddle?

Touch Up: seal any exposed wood with varnish on a regular basis. Lightly sand area, apply a diluted (by 10\%) coat of finish and let dry. Lightly sand area again and apply a full strength coat of varnish. Complete Refinish: strip all finish off the paddle using sand paper.

How do you restore a canoe paddle?

1. Step 1: Replace Any Missing Pieces. 3 More Images.
2. Step 2: Sand and Fill Cracks. 3 More Images.
3. Step 3: Finish and Protect Wood. Finally, I hand sanded the paddles one last time to remove extra wood filler and glue, and to provide a good surface for finishing.