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Tsuga8's post reminded me that i hadn't updated my post regarding final finish. I chose tung oil, and am happy with the result. I didn't want a finish to add color other than a faint amber hue, and the oil accomplished my goal. I'm glad that I didn't want to use the paddle right away since...

Everyone who sees this picture laughs, so I guess it's funny, and meets one of the criteria for this thread: and... for scale: Common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) Phallus_impudicus

Editing my photo library on a dreary, rainy day and I came across this fine fellow. Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanoma) seen here among the floating, boggy bits of Bog Pond in the St. Regis Canoe Area, ADKs. There is a small universe of flora on these floating bog islands...

Island Falls Willow 15'. Although I paddle all my tandem w/c canoes solo, this is the only dedicated solo. It is likely my favorite canoe to paddle and at 53#, the lightest to carry between lakes. Shown here at the northern terminus of North Bay, Upper Saint Regis Lake, ADK's while attending...

Thank you. For fun, I was trying to determine your position on the lake when you took the photo.

Aslowhand, that is a lovely panorama. What is the prominent peak at the right side, please?

I mostly use self inflating foam pads, but when I do use an air mattress I use a pump sack then top off with lungs. I'm sure there's probably nasty mold in there though....but I haven't seen any ill effects though!

In a related vein... how do you keep your pillow in place through the night? I slide a t shirt over the top of my sleeping pad, then slide the pillow under the t shirt. It keeps the pillow right where I want it regardless of whether i am in a hooded sleeping bag or a backpacking quilt which...

Nemo Fillo; air bladder with foam on one side and a removable, washable flannel outer. Also has a lace cord arrangement on the back side to allow adding a folded jacket or other garment to add height, presumably for side sleepers. Very comfortable and packs relatively small...

Generous of you Robin to give away a canoe with obvious history. I'm sure Mainetripper will do it justice. I'll be curious to see the resolution of the rounding of the bottom.

Uh-oh... you've exposed my dearth of knowledge with respect to wood finishes. I have a couple of varnished paddles; a finish I do not like, at least on the shaft. Grips have previously always been oiled with boiled linseed oil. I have done a bit of reading about the use of Watco Danish Oil on...

Ready for finish. I've decided to try Watco natural Danish Oil for the first time. I have read that stains will mask the features of the quarter sawn Sycamore, so a clear finish may be best. Here's the before, and I'll post the after once I have several coats soaked in...

Yes, it's really the best way to remove material without creating surface gouges, at least with this quarter sawn wood. Perhaps other types of cut; flat sawn, rift sawn, would be more plane friendly but using the plane on this paddle was effective only at the start of removal. It left...

Al, the blade is 5 3/8" at the widest point, and 25-26" long depending on where you consider the blade to end. Length is 59". I typically make paddles 60" and am comfortable with them, but chose to experiment by making this one just a bit shorter. Some comparison to the previous blade and...

Addendum: Here's the typical result of card scraping. Way faster than sanding with a belt sander, and leaves a pretty smooth finish. It's great for removing tool marks prior to sanding. And.... here's some "not paddle". This paddle making is easy- just remove everything that's "not a paddle".

Progress. The effort was interrupted by a trip north to Vermont to visit my son and his family, but I'm back at it. Rough blade shaping with my most aggressive rasp. A note here; leaving the shaft square until both blade and grip are fully shaped allows the maker to firmly clamp the paddle to...

Nice variety of blade shapes there. I wonder, will you be band sawing the excess off the blades prior to finer shaping? I didn't have the experience, or nerve, to freehand the bulk of the blade waste on the band saw!

A little progress: I used a pal's nice bandsaw to cut out the paddle shape I then refined the profile with a home made disc sander on my table saw- I cut a 5/8" cabinet grade plywood disc, drilled a 5/8" arbor hole in the center, then affixed a 10" 80grit pressure sensitive adhesive backed...

Yes, please!

I think this deserves more detail. Doesn't this qualify as a lengthy approach to a canoe tripping report? I would think the planning for a long-term stay, as well as the canoe trip at break up, will be of interest.