: Last year when I was paddling on Lake Diablo I met a guy that had built a
: small woodstrip canoe. He was using a kayak paddle that had a braided rope
: all the way around it as drip rings. I'm not sure what knot it was, but
: the ends of the braid were tucked into the knot so that you couldn't see
: the ends. It looked like one continuous braid. Sounds like this would be a
: good solution for you.

: Maybe someone out there knows what knot it was.

Sounds like a "Turk's Head" knot