Greenland sea kayak paddle : oiled finish
These paddles are made from Douglas fir or a similar wood and are treated with a mixture of oils. The final coats are of Danish Oil.
This finish is not as durable compared with some others but has the considerable advantage of easy maintenance and can be applied by hand as it is non-toxic.
After a period of use the paddle can be washed in freshwater and allowed to dry. A single coat, or several coats of Danish oil can be rubbed on by hand or by brush to restore the finish. When the final coat is well dry it is best to dull the high gloss with fine steel wool (000 grade). This helps to prevent the paddle slipping in use.
The paddle can be treated at any time with Danish oil but especially if bare patches of wood are evident. Frequency of re-treatment obviously depends on use but should be at least once a year.
Should scuffing or scratches roughen the surface, fine sandpaper can be used to restore the desired smoothness especially at the blade shoulders where the hands grip the paddle normally. After sanding, two or three coats of Danish oil should be applied before use. The last coat should be allowed a couple of days to dry before flattening the high gloss finish with steel wool. This time is obviously made shorter in a warm dry atmosphere but proximity to heaters should be avoided.
The blade tips on these paddles are oak or Greenheart wood both of which are very durable. The blade edges are normally oak or a similar hardwood.
Happy paddling !
index page see some paddles Why use narrow blades? 'Storm' paddle Ordering