bent shaft laminated wood canoe paddles

January 10, 2025
For all you paddlers that are gainfully employed, and those that are not - now that I think about it, LinkedIn has a paddler's group. Just found (and asked to join) it today.
it's always good, 20xx
This picture has been up for awhile, because sandbar camping is my favorite way to camp. You might consider the 92 miles of the Lower Wisconsin river for a trip of your own. Sandbars and canoe water from the bridge in Sauk City all the way to the Mississippi.

The Lower Wisconsin River is a fine place on the planet. This sandbar is about a one hour float downstream from Sauk City and is across from Ferry Bluff. My wife and I traded back and forth paddling the supCAT boards paddleboard and our much loved family truckster canoe. We took out at Arena, but there is also a landing at the base of Ferry Bluff, just across from this wonderful sandbar. A near perfect Labor Day weekend. FYI this is part of a 92 mile free flowing stretch of the Lower Wisconsin river that is superb for a multi-day float, all the way to the confluence with the Mississippi.

paddles and paddle kits from quietwater paddles

quietwater paddles offers kits containing the form, the wood and the other pieces needed to build two bent shaft, laminated canoe paddles. You do not need electricity to build our paddles! Hands can get the job done. Paddlers with no woodworking experience can do this! We also hand craft one of a kind custom paddles, ready for use in the great watery outdoors!

The standard kit, is a great starting point for the first time paddle builder. In addition to the clear, vertical grain western red cedar for the blade pieces, the kit contains everything else that you need for TWO complete paddles - shaft strips, handles, fiberglass, epoxy, brushes, cups, and a form for assembling the shaft and its bend.

quietwater also has a wide range of choices when it comes to wood types for the shaft and blade of your next paddle. Walnut and redwood are available if you want to upgrade a bit and add a different look to your paddle(s). Handles are also available in a wide range of wood species, styles and combinations.

A quietwater paddle kit will also work for a straight shaft paddle! Same shaft strips, blade pieces and handle. The form and the way you put the paddle together are changed, but it is still a ‘hands only’ project. Just call if you want to order this option, so I can make sure to get you the best length of shaft strips.

Some solo canoers like an ottertail paddle. If you are one of those paddlers, a quietwater kit can be modified to create a pair of otter tail paddles. It's not in the store yet, but we are happy to send one your way! Just call or email and let us know you want otter tail blades. This is typically a straight shaft paddle.

If you're after a guide stick, a quietwater paddle kit will work for that, too! This is a custom kit, mostly involving wider (and more) shaft strips, which means a matching form base. Maybe thicker blade pieces too, depending on just what the guide wants in their guide stick!

Custom paddles

We are big fans of DIY. It's a great feeling to get out on the water and use a paddle you built yourself. We also recognize that sometimes gifts are the idea and not projects. So if a completed paddle is what you want, then a completed paddle is what we can do. This is a custom step and takes a bit of email or phone calls. But the end result is a long package with a completed paddle in it, instead of the raw pieces.

We also offer custom pieces for paddle building. Different wood types for both shaft and blade, layered edge strips, or shaped handles are some of the custom options we offer.