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Opinions on one man, small shop paddle makers

S.Shepherd

S.Shepherd

Joined
Apr 6, 2019
Messages
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Location
Michigan
What shape paddle are you looking for?

Sanborn is a small shop two guys I think
https://sanborncanoe.com/products/about-us

Fox Works is a family shop too in NY State ( a very busy area for small canoe shops)
http://www.foxworxpaddle.com/about_us.html

I have a couple of nice paddles from Dogpaddle Canoe and Woodworks. Marc is on FB only though. One man shop.
Again in New York State.

There are others like Caleb Davis of Tremolo Paddles again in New York State who makes traditional paddles. No website that I can find.. I hope Caleb is still building.
 
yellowcanoe said:
What shape paddle are you looking for?

Sanborn is a small shop two guys I think
https://sanborncanoe.com/products/about-us

Fox Works is a family shop too in NY State ( a very busy area for small canoe shops)
http://www.foxworxpaddle.com/about_us.html

I have a couple of nice paddles from Dogpaddle Canoe and Woodworks. Marc is on FB only though. One man shop.
Again in New York State.

There are others like Caleb Davis of Tremolo Paddles again in New York State who makes traditional paddles. No website that I can find.. I hope Caleb is still building.
Click to expand...

A beaver or ottertail is what I'm leaning at.

For the price of a sanborn I like Shaw and Tenney better.

Thanks for the link.
 
I have a Redtail (otter), it's ok but nothing special........I would call it "good value" as it was pretty inexpensive.
 
I agree with Recped.
We have a number of economy Redtails in the canoe club. Utilitarian, nothing special.

My go-to is the cherry Kettlewell Ottertail- now made by Fishell.

Another choice would be Badger.

Have fun deciding!

Bruce
 
S.Shepherd said:
A beaver or ottertail is what I'm leaning at.

For the price of a sanborn I like Shaw and Tenney better.
Click to expand...

I had a 30+ year old Shaw and Tenney beavertail that I really liked but unfortunately broke it in a moment of abuse pushing off a rock. I also have two sets of oars from them that I like. I ordered the Penobscot beavertail online to replace the broken paddle but was disappointed with the new one. The lower shaft was not a smooth oval, rather it had hardish peaks front and back. Gave me blisters immediately. I planed and sanded some of the peak off but don't really trust it strength wise. Maybe I just got a bad one. Definitely no quality control. It's a shame because the blade is a nice shape and being spruce it is reasonably light. That was six years ago in 2013. Maybe quality is better now. Personally I would not order a Shaw and Tenney paddle online again. I would want to actually hold it and check it out before I bought. The first paddle I had and the oars were bought at boat shows.
 
saltandsky said:
I had a 30+ year old Shaw and Tenney beavertail that I really liked but unfortunately broke it in a moment of abuse pushing off a rock. I also have two sets of oars from them that I like. I ordered the Penobscot beavertail online to replace the broken paddle but was disappointed with the new one. The lower shaft was not a smooth oval, rather it had hardish peaks front and back. Gave me blisters immediately. I planed and sanded some of the peak off but don't really trust it strength wise. Maybe I just got a bad one. Definitely no quality control. It's a shame because the blade is a nice shape and being spruce it is reasonably light. That was six years ago in 2013. Maybe quality is better now. Personally I would not order a Shaw and Tenney paddle online again. I would want to actually hold it and check it out before I bought. The first paddle I had and the oars were bought at boat shows.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's the kind of info I'm looking for
 
Don't forget marc Ornstein at Dog paddle Works. Some of the finest and prettiest high end paddles made.
 
S.Shepherd said:
It looks like he has classes on making them but all of the business pages for paddles are gone
Click to expand...

Caleb has just responded to my email. He is well and still doing classes on paddle making and selling paddles by individual request. His web page is down but he asks that I pass along his new phone number, 518-409-2233 if you want to call for a paddle. You can still see a description and a photo of his paddles on the Long Lake Artisans page: http://www.longlakeartisans.com/Davis.html

He also has a couple of excellent video DVDs on paddling technique and paddle making available on http://www.newfound.com/video.htm

shapeimage_3.png
 
Last edited:
yknpdlr said:
Caleb has just responded to my email. He is well and still doing classes on paddle making and selling paddles by individual request. His web page is down but he asks that I pass along his new phone number, 518-409-2233 if you want to call for a paddle. You can still see a description and a photo of his paddles on the Long Lake Artisans page: http://www.longlakeartisans.com/Davis.html

He also has a couple of excellent video DVDs on paddling technique and paddle making available on http://www.newfound.com/video.htm

shapeimage_3.png
Click to expand...

Thanks. ANy idea what his paddles price out at ?
I thought about making m own, but then I remembered that's how I started making knives twenty years ago :eek:
 
S.Shepherd said:
Thanks. ANy idea what his paddles price out at ?
I thought about making m own, but then I remembered that's how I started making knives twenty years ago :eek:
Click to expand...
The last couple of finished paddles that I bought from Caleb cost me around $150 each. But if you take his paddle making class, the fee for the class and materials has typically been much less and you end up with your own paddle, plus you learn how to make your paddle (teach a man how to make his own paddle and ...) Don't know what a class costs now, but when I went it was only $100.

If you call him, tell him that I sent you. (he will know who from my login name)
 
Last edited:
S.Shepherd said:
Thanks. ANy idea what his paddles price out at ?
I thought about making m own, but then I remembered that's how I started making knives twenty years ago :eek:
Click to expand...

You should make your own, I make my own and I make some under commission as well. I do all kind but I really settled on one design of blade that I love! I think making your own is a good way to get connected even more to canoeing! It is really not that hard but I can assure you that you won't make only one!!
 

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The people that live in Long Lake NY have a lot of artistic talents.
I have a twenty some years old, six food long, Shaw & Tenney guide's paddle that I think the world of. It is long enough that I can stand to paddle when scouting sketchy water or just to stretch out my old knees. Great also for just the perfect speed for slow trolling on a beautiful evening of fishing.
 
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