Handmade from European Ash
In our workshop we make solid wooden paddles in the traditional way. Each model is based on historic designs, developed for practical use on flatwater or moving water. These are not showpieces, but paddles built to be used.
We work exclusively with air-dried European ash. This wood is supple, resilient, and local. Air-drying happens slowly and preserves the natural elasticity of the wood—an essential quality for a paddle that must give rhythm and response. Occasionally we use maple, which has similar properties, though it is slightly less strong. Whenever possible, we use trees we have felled ourselves. That way, we know exactly where the tree grew for some of the paddles we make.
Choosing European wood is deliberate. Almost all commercial ash today comes from the United States. That wood is typically kiln-dried for transport and storage. Kiln-drying hardens the wood, but also makes it more brittle. It loses some of the flexibility that matters so much in a paddle.
The paddles are made from tree trunk slabs, boards with the bark still on one side. We select the wood based on grain direction and figure. First we trace the rough outline, then saw it out and plane the piece flat. A straight shaft is crucial. We then plane the wood to thickness. Only then do we draw the final shape, which we cut on the bandsaw. The shaping of blade, shaft, and grip is done with hand planes and sanders. The paddle is finished with a satin polyurethane varnish. Only the grip is oiled, for a warmer feel in the hand. We make three models, each with its own history:
North Woods Paddles
Based on the design shared by Alexandra Conover Bennett in WoodenBoat Magazine in 1980. She learned this paddle style from the Wabanaki people in northern Maine. The North Woods paddle is slim and long, and rewards technique, but it is built for efficiency on long journeys. We make two versions: bow and stern, each with its own proportions.
Voyageur Paddle
Inspired by the paddles used by the voyageurs who travelled the Canadian wilderness in the 18th and 19th centuries, transporting furs and trade goods for the North American fur companies. Frances Anne Hopkins, who joined several expeditions in the 1860s, often painted them: long canoes, heavy loads, paddles moving in rhythm. The shape of our Voyageur paddle is an homage to that era.
Guide Paddle
A reference to the Maine Guides—men and women who, since 1897, have guided hunters, anglers, and travelers through Maine’s backcountry. Their knowledge of rivers, forests, and seasons often meant the difference between arriving and getting lost. The Guide paddle is more robust, suited to shallow rivers, unexpected obstacles, and daily use.
The paddles are handmade in my workshop, by my own hands. I am a canoe builder, guide, and instructor. For more than twenty years I have traveled rivers at home and abroad. What I have learned along the way, about wood, water, and technique, is built into each design.
What I love most about canoeing is that moment when paddler, boat, paddle, and water fall into step. As if you become part of your surroundings. I feel that connection most strongly with these classic designs, which place me in a direct line with tradition. Each paddle continues that line.
