Wood Canoe - Paddle Aspects | A Natural State - Episode 6

Download Transcript

The finished paddle has three basic parts--the grip, the shaft and the blade. The grip is ergonomic, or designed to reduce a paddler's hand fatigue, and can be custom shaped to the user's hand. The shaft transfers the force of the paddler's arm movement to the blade. Blades vary in style, but most popular are the Bentshafts, a style based on paddles used by canoe racers. The taper and curve of the blade determines the effectiveness, speed, and smoothness of the paddle's action.

More in this Series

Natural State / Coastal Plain | A Natural State / Phil Greene

Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State
- Episode 4 Spotlight 1

Video

Grades

Spotlight

Episode 1

A typical Phil Greene canoe is a Spotlight of exotic and indigenous woods that were cut, sanded, carved and refined for six months or more. The canoes combine sculptural details with practical design...

Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State
- Episode 4 Wood Canoe 2

Video

Grades

Wood Canoe

Episode 2

In June 2002, an 18th century Cherokee canoe was found in the cold clear water of the Chattooga River. Early Cherokee canoes called dugouts were burned and scraped out of single tree trunks. The...

Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State
- Episode 4 Wood Canoe 3

Video

Grades

Wood Canoe

Episode 3

Finished hulls appear as rich warm-toned boats encased in a layer of glass. The finish is the result of hours of sanding and polishing the epoxy layers on the outside of the hull. A fairing board is...

Wood Canoe - Building a Hull | A Natural State
- Episode 2 Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State 4

Video

Grades

Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State

Episode 4

Wood destined to become part of a canoe is kept dry in a loft above Phil's workshop. A tour through the loft reveals the different woods found in Phil's work including red cedar, bloodwood, walnut...

Video

Grades

Baptizing a New Boat | A Natural State

Episode 5

Wood Song Canoes, Phil's business, gets its name from the feeling he gets as he quietly glides through the water in a well made wooden boat. We visited Phil and his son as they "baptized" a new boat...

Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State
- Episode 4 Wood Canoe 7

Video

Grades

Wood Canoe

Episode 7

Canoes need paddles, so Phil specializes in both woodworking crafts. While paddles made of softwood are more often purchased for economy and function, paddles of hardwood are bought for visual appeal...