Saturday, June 26, 2010

Zoe's Otter Tail

Modified Otter Tail with squared tip

My latest paddle is a modified Otter Tail design with a squared off tip. This time the shaft is ash and the blade is laminated with Peruvian Walnut which was fantastic to work with. The board that I bought was the color of dark chocolate and felt as though I was carving chocolate. I'll have to do more projects with it. As I shaped and shaved the blade down the grain really came out and shows as fantastic golden streaks throughout the darker wood. In the sun light I really takes on a rich color. The weight is 690 grams.

I just got back from a canoe trip in northern Saskatchewan where I had an opportunity to use this paddle and was thoroughly impressed with it. It's light, flexible and quiet. The blade measures 25" X 5". The long and narrow blade allows for long paddling days without the muscle pains.

Bear logo

Large, old bear (Cree Syllabics)