Hi Curt, Look at Mitchell Paddles. I have a friend who paddles whitewater and says they're some of the best out there, wood or composite.

Seems like they're basically just an all-wood paddle (generous use of maple on the blade edges for strength) with glass or carbon fiber covering the wood blades. They also use a piece of fiberglass rope around the edges of the paddle blade for toughness.

Looks like basswood or spruce for paddle shafts.

If you've already got a composite or plastic paddle and like it, just make the wood one the same shape. Or, print out your favorite blade shap on a web page, blow it up, and use it for a pattern.

Shawn

> I would like to try my hand at making a whitewater kayak paddle as winter
> project. I paddle a plastic boat but have heard good things about wooden
> paddles. I do not have any plans or designs to work from. I am interested
> in information about where to get plans, layouts, designs, cut sheets or
> whatever I need to get started.

> Please e-mail any information to cctaylor3@yahoo.com . Thank you in
> advance for your help.

> Thinking spring

> Curt Taylor