At first glance, Aleut paddles seem (to our modern senses) to be mere sticks, incapable of propelling a kayak through the water, however the sophistication and advantages of the design rapidly becomes apparent with use. The long thin blade serves a dual purpose: by distributing the surface area along the length of the paddle instead of away from the shaft axis as in conventional paddles, Aleut paddles require a much lower angle of entry into the water.

This allows the paddler to use a longer lower stroke, requiring much less movement of the wrists, elbows and shoulders. Not only does this conserve energy, it also reduces wear on the joints over the course of several thousand strokes. The second advantage of the long thin blade is that it presents a much smaller profile to the air, making feathering the paddle unnecessary. This in turn reduces the strain on the wrist joint that is inflicted by a feathered stroke.

Unlike traditional Greenland style paddles, Aleut paddles are asymmetrical, with a concave power face and convex back face. The increased grip of the paddle on the water more than justifies the additional work and the resulting difference in resistance allows the paddler to choose between two "gears", depending on the water conditions.

Your boat quietly slips through the water as you take another stroke, barely feeling the strain in your arms and shoulders. The wooden shaft is warm in your hands, providing a sure grip that allows you to feel the water on each stroke. What you're experiencing is three thousand years of intuition and evolution in a single design: a traditional Aleutian paddle.

Our paddles are laminated using a combination of Sitka spruce or poplar and the best cedar available, to take advantage of the best qualities each offers. After lamination, each paddle is hand carved with traditional wood working tools and treated with oil and polyurethane to ensure longevity. Historically, the Aleuts constructed their paddles with a specific user in mind, a tradition we continue. As a result, the paddles come in a variety of sizes or can be custom ordered.

We also offer workshops for hand-carving your own traditional paddle.

Hand Carved Paddles

Now Shipping Semi Production Paddles

Based on a typical Aleutian design, our production paddles are laminated in the same fashion as our hand carved paddles, then the power face is shaped using custom built machines to achieve the proper form. Much hand work is till required . The blade tips are quadruple urethane coated, and the loom quadruple french polished with tuge oil and beeswax. US $ 290 plus shipping

Paddle Workshops

Imagine the feeling of paddling your kayak with a paddle that fits you perfectly. Now imagine that you made that paddle. These workshops cover paddle construction starting with a laminated blank and ending with a hand carved paddle. In the process you'll get to experience several traditional hand tools such as planes, spoke shaves, and scorps and get to learn the fundamentals of how these tools work. The workshop can be completed in a day, with materials provided to complete the sanding and finish at home. Workshops are offered throughout the year and can be scheduled through appointment. With advance notice Greenland style paddles can also be constructed.

Suggested Tuition Donation: US$125.00 (includes materials)