Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 21

HEIRLOOM TECHNOLOGY

By Tim Anderson

Instant Paddle

Here’s a better, quicker, inexpensive way to make a paddle.

» A paddle can be laborious to make. It can cost a lot to buy. Here’s a better, quicker, inexpensive way.

The old-time Hawaiians sometimes made paddles this way, and I’ve seen paddles made the same way in Nicaragua. I myself have done a lot of paddling with paddles like this. They work great.

And there’s not much to it. Drill 2 pairs of holes in a board. Tie loops of string through the holes. Jam a stick in the loops and go paddling.

Pictured is a Naish carbon stand-up paddle that retails for $399, next to my “copy” which didn’t cost ...