wildpaddler
Anyone can learn to canoe
I had mentioned in my other post about an Otter Tail that I had made for my girlfriend Zoe. I modified Otter Tail design by straightening the sides and squaring off the tip, almost like the modern voyageur design. I find this blade design to be extremely quiet and the long narrow blade allows the paddler to paddle long distances during the day and still feel good enough to go for a paddle in the evening. The shaft is made of ash and the blade is Peruvian Walnut, which is amazing to work with. It's like carving in chocolate! When I bought the walnut the entire board was as dark as dark chocolate but when I started shaping the blade the grain came out which shows as golden streaks throughout. At 690 g it is comparable in weight to my Grey Owl otter tail. The blade measures 25" X 5".
