I started one of these last winter when it was to cold to work on the kayak.. Thought it would be a good way to keep my head in the game.
I had a real hard time getting a perfect birds mouth on those thin strips. Ended up using 8 strips with a 45 degree bevel on one edge for the shaft. Worked out pretty good and much easier than the birdsmouth for a table saw noobie like me. You're not kidding about wrapping them up in the circle. seriously like wrangling a heard of cats and messy to boot. extra set of hands would have been nice..

I made the blade with strips of various cedar and a couple strips of oak down the middle.
Amazing how light this thing is! I still need to make a handle and was planning on some glass on the blade and the blade to shaft joint.
It's warm enough to work on the kayak these days so the paddle isn't getting much love. Someday I'll finish it though :)