The quality wooden paddles are only for traditionalists and people of exceptional discrimination. They should be be made of ash or wild cherry and custom fitted to your particular J-stroke or feather stroke as you prefer. Joe Canoedeler uses spruce, plastic, aluminum and glass/carbon fiber paddles. Guys with spruce paddles are of no significance and are merely confused about life and quality goods. They generally paddle from both sides of the canoe, switching after each stroke.
There is hope for the ones that use the synthetics and aluminum shafts. They at least believe they are on the right track and are trying to improve themselves. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
