- 1). Design your stand-up paddle. A paddle that is too long will put a strain on your arms and shoulders. A short paddle, on the other hand, will cause back issues as you will need to bend when you use it. The length of your paddle should be 70 to 73 inches, since paddles for stand-up paddling are always longer than the ones used in canoes.
- 2). Draw a template for your paddle on the surface of the wooden board of your choice.
- 3). Cut the paddle from the board with the power saw, closely following the outline you made. Note that you have only a rough cutout of a paddle, since the fine shaping will take place later.
- 4). Shape the paddle using a hand saw, hatchet, knife or chisel, whatever you find suitable and practical. After cutting from the wood board, the paddle is not sophisticated or finished enough for a mere sandpaper treatment. Use the tools to trim the excess material from the edges and corners. Shape the area of the paddle handle so that it will fit your hand perfectly and will not cause pain when you hold the paddle for long periods of time. Also, form a slight curve along the whole length. Once you have your paddle shaped into the desired size, form and length, proceed with the next step for finer and final shaping.
- 5). Treat the wooden paddle with tough-grit sandpaper to smooth and even its surface. Make sure that this is now the final shape of your stand-up paddle. Then, use a fine-grit sandpaper to polish the paddle as the final touch.
- 6). Wipe off the paddle with a soft cloth to remove all dust and dirt. Note that if there is fine dust on the surface of the paddle, the primer and the wood finish won't be as smooth, thus making the paddle less efficient.
- 7). Apply a coat of wood primer with a paintbrush, leaving it to dry thoroughly.
- 8). Apply a thin layer of polyurethane on the whole surface of the paddle. Wait until the first layer is dry and hardened, and then lightly sand the surface with fine grit sandpaper. After this, apply another coat to finish the paddle. The polyurethane will serve as a sealant, keeping your paddle strong and functional. Applying more light and thin layers of primer, stain or gloss is far better than applying one or a few thick ones.
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