Ok - first, don't kill me, but I built a greenland kayak last week and it is A LOT of fun. Got out in the wind and waves and swell and just sat there, snug as a duck. Started to learn to roll; it's early days but I see the light.
Point being, I got a really nice 2-piece greenland paddle with an interesting composite ferrule joining the two halves. I also, by happy chance, have two chunks of sassafras, both of which are wide enough for an ottertail, but neither of which is long enough for a canoe paddle. Given that sassafras needs to be a little thicker around the middle, I think the ferrule style will allow a manageable shaft width.
What I don't know, are the stresses on a canoe paddle significantly greater than those on a greenland paddle? Has anyone built a DIY takedown canoe paddle out of any sort of wood? I didn't see any 2-piece wooden paddles available in a cursory search, although I see a few carbon shafts. Here is the ferrule in question; it's pretty beefy.
Point being, I got a really nice 2-piece greenland paddle with an interesting composite ferrule joining the two halves. I also, by happy chance, have two chunks of sassafras, both of which are wide enough for an ottertail, but neither of which is long enough for a canoe paddle. Given that sassafras needs to be a little thicker around the middle, I think the ferrule style will allow a manageable shaft width.
What I don't know, are the stresses on a canoe paddle significantly greater than those on a greenland paddle? Has anyone built a DIY takedown canoe paddle out of any sort of wood? I didn't see any 2-piece wooden paddles available in a cursory search, although I see a few carbon shafts. Here is the ferrule in question; it's pretty beefy.