: SO... I've been mulling it for a while. And I have Bryan N's book
: on carving a GP. Because this is my first try - I'd like to pull
: this off as cheaply as possible. So - what wood could I get for
: this?

I've just finished oiling a couple of new ones yesterday, using the method from the URL below.

So, timber, a 19 mm (3/4") thick cedar plank to the width you want to finish with or wider.

: And, what's the bare minimum tools-wise to be able to do this
: realistically?

A handsaw (yes, they go round corners, just). A Stanley #4 plane, a power sander is nice, but..., a wide blade chisel, sandpaper, 60 grit and finer, epoxy and filler, not much of either. Linseed oil and turps - 50:50 for the first coating, straight oil after that. Tung oil instead if you really want to.

: My dad has a band saw that I can cut the blank

Not needed, I don't have one.

: spokeshave or
: draw knife (though, the spokeshave & draw knives scare me
: just looking at them).

Never used them.

This is the way I do it for minimal wood wastage. This is for a laminated paddle, hence the use of epoxy. Re-do the dimensions for a smaller paddle(r).

http://sites.google.com/site/kayakamf/making-greenland-paddles

Alex