I have paddled my Shaw and Tenney sassafras paddle ( the guide model I think ) for 2 years now. It has a larger blade surface than I thought I cared to pull through the water. I ordered it unfinished and oiled the entire paddle with badger oil after wood burning a quote on each side. I did the old method of one coat a day for a week, one coat a week for a month ....
It did not take long for the wood to mellow into a really nice brown color. The oil finish is excellent in both durability and how it feels in my hands. After a long trip. or a rough day on the Wisconsin River, I re-apply a thin coat and it is new again. It flexes enough I can notice a difference at the end of a day ( shoulders and elbow happy ), but still has has enough stiffness to propel me against current up river nicely ... not too noodely. As to the large blade surface ... it is real nice, not too big at all. Also, it has excellent underwater recovery and the guide stroke is so easy. I really like the grip area where I can move my hand up and down when I get tired. Also, on the Wis. River, I can slide my hand down for a "shorter " paddle near sand bars and in deeper water I can place my hand on top for a deeper entry.
The flex of the blade and to some extent the shaft just feels better to me over my ash or cherry paddles on longer days in current or battling wind, especially as I get older.