: My question is: Wanting to start on a paddle. Will a
: shaft that starts as 1-1/4 X 1-1/4 be strong enough? If not, what is the
: minimum starting size (before rounding)? Thanks in advance for your help,

It depends on what kind of paddle you're making. A paddle with short, wide blades and a long shaft puts a lot of stress on the shaft. A paddle with long narrow blades and a short shaft (e.g. a Greenland paddle) puts much less stress on the shaft. If you have strength concerns, you could alway rip the stock down the middle and laminate a layer of stronger wood or several layers of fiberglass down the center of the shaft.