Kids canoe paddles

Does anyone know of sources to order small canoe paddles for kids? I know a couple of little guys who sit in my canoe in the yard and wish they could go with me sometime so I’d like to get paddles their size. I’m looking for some that aren’t too expensive.

PADDLES
I GOT MY 3 AND 4 YEAR OLD LITTLE 3 FOOT WOODEN PADDLES AT WALMART AND LET THEM PAINT DESIGNS AND STUFF ON THEM, THEY LOVE THEM AND IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO PADDLE A LITTLE FOR FUN

Bending Branches
http://www.bendingbranches.com/straightcanoe/sc_twig.html

Twenty years ago, I bought a paddle
made by Sawyer for my then three year old son. It looks much like the Bending branches one…has a nylon or plastic type type about a half inch wide on the blade. It worked weel and fit his hand better than the el cheapo paddle from wally world. I still have it. Now I use it for boat control sometimes when fishing out of my kayak.

REI?
I got a couple of small Sawyers there for my daughters some years back. I think they carry Bending branches now.



Tommy

One possible source for the Sawyer
I have purchased both the Sawyer paddle and the Bending Branches for my son’s and like the Sawyer a bit more.



One place they can be found online…



http://www.rutabaga.com/product.asp?pid=1005220

modify the small, cheap feathercrafts
They are about $7-8 at wally mart. I cut the palm grip off the top and then cut about 3" of the remaining shaft off and then screwed that 3" piece to the shaft on the shaft to make a T handle. Round off the sharp edges of course. Apply a good coat of polyurethane around the new T grip to tighten it up to the shaft even more.



Here’s a pic



http://community.webshots.com/photo/341248076/432995360HyMJpV

Thanks for the replies
I too thought of cutting down some cheapies, maybe I’ll try Wal-mart first. My own preference is Bending Branches, I’ll check their site too. Watch for me and twin 3-year-olds on the St. Joe (MI) River.

I always
take a belt sander to the shafts of paddles for kids. they seem to make them with the same shaft diameter of an adult paddle. fox paddles [ camp] is making a kids bent shaft, my 8 year old loves it.

I made one for my grandson from a
1"x 4" clear board. Takes about 10 minutes to draw, 10 to cut out, and maybe 30 to sand and finish with a palm sander.I think I may have feathered the blades with a power plane.

WalMart and Gander Mountain
We used the WalMart 3’ ones while kids were too young to really help paddle. Now they are 3, 5, and 6 years old. Two oldest can do a decent job up front and we got their latest paddle at Gander Mountain for about $10. Worked great on a 4 day BW trip in May and we’ll head back again in October.



Good luck! Wouldn’t spend too much time on it until you see how those twins like the ride and how you like the twins!! :slight_smile:



-Kelly

stockton canoe company makes small
contact stockton canoe company, they make kids paddles too

i think its http://www.stocktoncanoes.com or do a search with those words

nm