Hi All
Last year when going up to the BWCA in July I forgot my second paddle. So when I went to the Outfitters to pick up our permit they had some used older paddles for a few dollars. I bought a bent shaft paddle but it’s very heavy. Has anyone ever tried to make a wooden paddle lighter?
Please advise if you have ideas.
Thanks
Mike

The best way to make it lighter is to replace it with a lighter one.

Ha! I have a very light one but was wondering about if this is even a possibility

Yea you just use a paddle-lightener, you get it from the same company that makes board stretchers for carpenters :P

But seriously I think you'd be best off buying a new paddle. Carbon Fiber ought to do it.

Cut the handle off and replace with a lighter handle. Then cut the blade off and put a lighter one on. Or... Hollow out the end enough, put a Bic lighter in it and you can use it like a lighter...

I have good paddles. This is just a heavy spare. Its Just a bit of fun. This isn’t my only paddle.

I’m thinking none of you have done it. Yes it’s easy to just go out and buy something. That someone else made. Then what you have bragging points that you have something better? But to me the most gratifying things that bring me the most happiness is the most annoying and difficult things I do in life. Think gardening or raising kids. Rebuilding a sailboat or canoe or paddle. Buying something off the shelf loses its happiness value nearly immediately. Just my opinion of course. Good luck with your new things. Ill screw around with this old paddle. It might break but might not and I’ll have something to be proud of in the future if it holds up. I’d much rather have something that my grandpa tinkered around with and made it his own then the lightest most expensive paddle out there. But there you go. That’s me anyways.

I think your biggest problem is the type of wood. Some wood is just heavier, but then possibly stronger. If that’s the case maybe you can thin the blade down and make the shaft smaller. Like you said the worst thing that could happen is it breaks, on the other hand it might work. Sounds like you have enough paddles so won’t use it as is so you really have nothing to lose. Good luck

I think your biggest problem is the type of wood. Some wood is just heavier, but then possibly stronger. If that’s the case maybe you can thin the blade down and make the shaft smaller. Like you said the worst thing that could happen is it breaks, on the other hand it might work. Sounds like you have enough paddles so won’t use it as is so you really have nothing to lose. Good luck

Whatsit: "I’m thinking none of you have done it. Yes it’s easy to just go out and buy something. That someone else made. Then what you have bragging points that you have something better? But to me the most gratifying things that bring me the most happiness is the most annoying and difficult things I do in life. Think gardening or raising kids. Rebuilding a sailboat or canoe or paddle. Buying something off the shelf loses its happiness value nearly immediately. Just my opinion of course. Good luck with your new things. Ill screw around with this old paddle. It might break but might not and I’ll have something to be proud of in the future if it holds up. I’d much rather have something that my grandpa tinkered around with and made it his own then the lightest most expensive paddle out there. But there you go. That’s me anyways. "

+1

Sand it down to toothpick size. Or buy a lighter paddle. Light wood = weak wood. I made my paddle out of Ash and Cherry.

Doubt it’s possible. It’s most likely heavy because of the wood species that it was made with. Most light paddles are cedar and basswood with maybe one or two strips of a hardwood like walnut- but mostly light woods. There’s nothing you can do to fix that.

Another suggestion- if you really want to do something cool then why not just make your own from scratch? It’s not that hard and I think would be easier than trying to somehow make the other lighter- then you’ll have a REAL heirloom.

I've seen a few paddles that were not just heavy wood but also carved more like a club than a paddle. If it is one of those, then I would read up on paddle making and then treat it as a blank that needs more work and shave it down. You just need to figure out where it can be thinner (probably the blade but maybe not the shaft).

On the other hand, if it is a lot of work maybe it is better used as the basis for a wall decoration and then spend the woodworking effort on better wood. Or practice some woodworking on it and then turn it into a decoration.

andym: "...treat it as a blank that needs more work and shave it down...
...practice some woodworking on it..."

This.

If it works, great! If not, you've built some skills and experience, and maybe a genuine interest in making your own from scratch.

cutting a large hole out of the blade would lighten it substantially.

Actually, try many small holes might work better. Water has a harder time getting through many small holes than one large one and so you might lose more weight than paddling efficiency.