Crawfish Paddle | SouthernPaddler.com

Crawfish Paddle

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
A new one for my son.

DogwoodsampCrawfishPaddle006_zps37e5db0a.jpg

IMG_2945.JPG

beekeeper
 
Last edited:

mike

Well-Known Member
Jun 29, 2009
694
9
TEXAS!
FlaMike said:
...Hmmmm. . . Longer, narrow blade. Is that a more traditional pirogue paddle trait?

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

It's for stirring a pot of boiling mudbugs. 8)

Mike
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
catfish said:
bee what kind of wood did you make it out of

Pine 2"X4". Cypress is traditional and may have been better, but I didn't have any at the time. I don't think the crawfish will know the differance. :roll: :)

beekeeper
 

FlaMike

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2007
624
2
Spring Hill, FL
www.ptponds.com
That last link will be helpful to me. But I really would like to hear more about traditional pirogue paddles, if anyone knows about it. I'd be surprised if seedtick didn't have something to say on the subject, but I haven't heard from him in quite a while. In fact, the Forum itself seems to be very inactive right now. Thought I could generate a little activity by asking some questions, but had only limited success.

Heck, I just like hearing from all you guys every once in a while!

Well, if I can turn up any info, I'll certainly post it.

Thanks!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
 

FlaMike

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2007
624
2
Spring Hill, FL
www.ptponds.com
I don't know if I can "hot link" these pics, but I'll give it a try. These are what I've found when I searched for pics of traditional pirogue paddles. They are on the louisianafolklife.org web site and describe the paddle as being "soft shouldered," with a long, narrow blade and a squared tip.

ocp13.jpg


The second pic shows one paddle that is what the builder calls "pagailles indiens" ( Indian paddles,) and the one below it is supposed to be a traditional pirogue paddle.

ocp20.jpg


Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
 

catfish

Well-Known Member
Feb 7, 2007
996
3
jesup, ga.
bee i assume it was white pine or fir? i have made one out of this before .it is really light weight.

fla mike i thought it was just me the last few weeks ? i know the spring fling was going on but it sho was dead on here. yea enjoy reading all of you geezers post. yea some of the geezers havent posted in a while. i guess they working on knives and boats? :?: :roll: :lol:
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
catfish
It was white pine. HD store has a cut off/reject bin that has 2"X4"X4' for $.50. Can't pass them up. I keep thinking I can make something useful from them. Most of the time it would be easier to start with better wood.

Mike S.
There may be a "traditional" pirogue paddle. I really don't know. I would guess there are many variations. About as many as there are paddle makers. The shape is probably determined as much by what the wood the maker has. A scrap piece of lumber, or old fence post 4" wide 28" long will only make a paddle 4"X28" long or less. A cut off 12" wide plank could make a wider one. Time and experance may disreguard, or leave behind designs or sizes that don't work well.

beekeeper
 

FlaMike

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2007
624
2
Spring Hill, FL
www.ptponds.com
Well, at least we got a conversation going! :D

I wouldn't have had much to say if I hadn't forgotten what the thread title was. . . :oops:

Now, I have some ideas about making a pirogue paddle, something I can do even if I can't get the boat build started just yet.

Mike S.
Spring Hill FL
 

beekeeper

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2009
1,917
59
They are "over designed/made" for what is needed to stir crawfish but that would be too easy. A little longer here or a little wider there and they would work fine for boat paddling.
I can make the most simple project into a bigger undertaking. Borrowed a 2X4 from my neighbor. After cutting out the paddles I realized the wood was treated lumber. It worked out for the best because the board I bought looked much better. The simplest thing would have bought two stir paddles or at most cut out a board to the generic shape of a paddle. That would have been "good enough" but I like "better" or things others are not able or willing to do. Hopefully my son and his friend will like and appreciate the extra work. If not that is OK. I know what they are and that make me happy.