paddle
Try whiskey jack paddles. I have the double whiskey , its lightweight, and fits me like a glove. I love using this paddle.
You can also try the Viper by bending branches. Its a double bent paddle. I have used my Viper on many long trips to the bwca and have had no problems. Like others have said, a custom paddle that costs a lot of money may not be what you really need. Both paddles listed above are around $150-$180. They are beautiful to look at, fit perfectly in my hand, and are a pleasure to paddle. Buy a paddle based on how it feels and get measured for a paddle so you dont get something thats too long for you.
The paddle you describe,
http://www.cricketdesigns.com/honeyisland.htm
What boat are you using and what is your primary paddling style, flatwater, whitewater, tripping, freestyle, Omering? That will make a big difference in the paddle you need.
Custom Sticks
I have several Quimby and Ornstein paddles and a couple Schooley’s as well. I use them because they enhance my paddling. Are they worth the wait and price? In my opinion; Absolutely!
Craig Quimby can be reached at 715.274.3416 or quimby@baysat.net or pob 677, Mellon WI 54546.
Marc can be reached at 585.698.5773, or mornstein@frontiernet.net or through his website. He lives in Honeyoye Falls NY, south of Rochester.
I seem to have lost contact with Eric Schooley.
These guys are artists, and their sticks are museum pieces that we get to use.
current Quimby email:
is quimby@dishmail.net; changed a couple months ago. Craig’s paddles start at $350.00 and range to $550.00
Definitely nice sticks, although I would not be able to afford a new one now.
Kialoa
I use an Axel II for outrigger paddling, and just tried it out in my Novacraft canoe these past couple of weeks and I love it.
After a couple years of outrigger, I grabbed the Novacraft and my Bending Branches paddles… They felt like logs to me by comparison.
Kialoa all the way. 
http://www.kialoa.com/store/prodView.asp?idproduct=29
Kialoa
– Last Updated: Oct-23-07 5:26 PM EST –
Many Choices
Don’t overlook some of the custom canoe builders as well.
Hemlock Canoe for example builds and sells paddles and I’m certain would consider a custom.
Put out a general call here on Pnet, there are numerous folks building there own paddles. Beyond that, if you have the facilities try DIY. I can assure you that these same fine folks will offer the benefit of their expertise and experience to aid you endeavor.
For me, I use my Zav most of the time. I also have a solid cherry Grey Owl otter-tail I use for just tooling along using underwater strokes.
I found a great wood bent shaft years ago made by Voyageur that is very light and well constructed.
Look around and consider the options. I like the looks of the Whiskey Jack (think that is correct) paddles mentioned before.
Cheers
Wes
Custom Paddle
Thanks everyone for all of your input. I’ve checked out many of the suggestions and will probably go the Dogpaddle route. Many of the better commercial paddles are good, but none seem to compare to the Quimby’s or Dogpaddle’s that I have now seen. Marc at Dogpaddle Canoe Works tells me that he can have a paddle to me in 4-6 weeks, maybe sooner. The wait from Quimby is indeterminate and likely to be too long to consider.
You will definitely enjoy your paddle
made by Marc. Excellent choice.
Paddle fit
Need info on fitting a paddle to my build: 5’-8" 145 lbs 70 yrs old. Bought a used canoe and after 50 year void; am back again but the sport has improved and advanced. So need help in selecting a paddle for solo. How long? Straight shaft? Square or rounded tip? Thanks all.
Paddle Fit
There are several ways of estimating paddle length. Keep in mind that it is only the shaft length that matters. Do not enter the blade length into the equation when sizing a paddle. A good method of determining approximate shaft length is to stand upright and extend one arm straight down. Hold the grip of the paddle in the palm of that hand. The throat of the paddle (where the blade meets the shaft) should be at or near your hairline. If you paddle mostly from a kneeling position you may want a slightly shorter shaft. If you do alot of cross strokes as in freestyle or whitewater, you may want a bit longer shaft to gain some reach.
As for blade shape and size. If you paddle fast as in racing or fast touring, you’ll want a relatively small blade. If your tendency is to take a slower pace, a larger/wider blade is an advantage. It is easier to enter the water cleanly, with splashing if the tip is a bit rounded. In whitewater where you want maximum grab fast and often in shallow water where you can’t bury the blade, a squared off tip has the edge. The sholders of the blade should be somewhat relieved so that you can paddle close to the side of the canoe for greater efficiency. A good canoe shop or a paddle maker can help you with more specific advice.
You don’t think a long, narrow blade
makes for a different shaft length calculation than a short, wider blade?
Paddle Length
The length of the blade makes no difference since the blade should be completely submerged. The shaft length is essentially the distance from the water surface to the top of the grip when the blade is fully submerged, at the power point of the stroke.
If you are using a long blade in Canadian style paddling where you are positioned very low in the boat, the shaft will necessarily be shorter because you have reduced your “height” in the boat. The same applies to a lesser extent if you paddle from a kneeling position as opposed to sitting high on the seat.
Get into your boat (boat in the water) in your favorite paddling position. Take your paddle and place it in the water at the power point of your stroke. Note the waterline on the blade or shaft. Measure from the waterline to the top of the grip. That is the proper shaft length (adjusted a bit for personal preference).
MarcO
Woodsong Paddles
Last summer I ran into a couple on their way up to the Sylvania who had a beautiful cedarstrip Jensen 17. As I have a cedarstrip Advantage we got into the predictable conversation. When we got around to paddles, I showed him two that we use, a lovely Peter Puddicome bent and a Whiskeyjack Straight. These paddles are both really good looking (and a pleasure to use), so when he said, “Oh, I have a couple that’ll just blow you away” I was a little surprised. Then he pulled out two sticks from a South Carolina canoe and paddle maker I had never heard of, Woodsong (not the builder of his Jensen, by the way.) I’ve seen a lot of paddles, but these were (easily) the most beautiful I have ever seen. While not as light as either of the two I had, they felt great, too. Honestly, the workmanship was worthy of a museum. For those of you who have yet to see the work from this company, check out this site. If nothing else, you’ll get to see what a canoe that takes a $25,000 DEPOSIT looks like! http://www.woodsongcanoes.com
Those are some beautiful paddles.
well there you go
The difference between an active house builder (Craig) and a retired roofer (Marc)
Both Marc and Craigs paddles are beautiful and lovely to handle.
There are differences, not betters or worsts, and thats why I have a real investment in them. I love them both.
echo paddles
http://echopaddles.com/paddles.asp
I have a “Pursuit” in carbon fiber that I use for whitewater. It’s really tough- I beat the heck out of mine.
The guy who makes them is happy to modify them to your exact specs.
i’ll echo that sentiment
top of the pops daddy-o, and spendy…
Whiskeyjack Paddles
I’ll second Whiskeyjack Paddles - http://www.whiskeyjackpaddles.com
I purchased an inscribed Whiskey Bender last year. An absolute work of art. And Insanely light. When the box arrived I thought it was empty.
flatwater/mild_ww paddle…
daytripper…Dave?,
If it is, paddles are somewhat like a skiboot and skis. Now if this isn’t the Dave(Flyfishing…DEC…etc) forget all this;-), but paddles are as generic to performance as skiboots are off the shelf…they’re just so so till tweaked(shaven/sanded…grip/blade/shaft’s varnish taken off!!) so that the human hand can effectively use them/it. …AND, paddles are made, like skis, to DO something…not to look like a livingroom piece of furniture, or mold to the skier’s anatomy…the human pulls themselves to the level of performance rendered by the paddle(positively OR Negatively!) ahem…although some skis might fit the “looking like” function(haha…)
…Just my $.01,
Steve