Paddles Back to the main page
Athan started a real trend with these paddles, cut with the bandsaw from a single piece of wood, shaped and then sanded before being stained. Before long everyone wanted one!
You propel your canoe with a T-handled paddle like this. The most effective stroke for paddling a Canadian Canoe is to grasp the T in the left hand and the stem with the right hand, and paddle over the right gunwhale. Use what is known as the "J" stroke, ( except that the curl should go the other way!) You push the water backwards for the full stroke, then twist the paddle blade over and finish off with a slight sidewards motion, which counteracts the tendency for the boat to veer off to the left. When you need to steer, use the paddle like a rudder.
Simpler paddles made with a simple plywood blade on a broom stale are also ok, especially if you include a T piece on the end.