Have noticed most SUP’s are being sold as a package with carbon paddles included in price these days as a sales pitch. I have made 4 SUP’s so far and plan on taking some to retail stores. Of course I can just buy the paddles but by the time I add my wholesale price (with paddle bought at wholesale) and their retail mark-up it becomes over the going competition in my area. If I were to build my own paddles then it would be par with price. Of course big companies mass produce them and buy large bulk materials compared to me which also cuts cost but at this time I’m unable to buy like that. My question is, where can I get core material to build the paddles? Can you buy the paddle rod already made since they are i’m guessing done with a mold? Then all I’d have to do is build the head out of foam(not sure of type) and then connect to rod. Not looking to make wood paddles only the carbon composites. Thanks
You can find the Carbon rod easy on the internet. Don't know about the pricing on Carbon tubing. Haven't checked. I saw Carbon Knobs for sale on Ebay a couple of days ago for $5 a piece. The hard part is the blade. You can layup carbon fiber for the blade probably by using an exsisting blade as a mold. Use mold release, parafin or Pam. The correct angle of the blade and the round junction where the tube connects would be the most difficult part of such a process. Be careful grinding carbon fiber. It's not good for you. Spray the completed paddle with some kind of clear coat. I have seen Carbon Fiber paddles for sale on the internet for as cheap as $89. So to be competitive with the packaged boards; What are you doing about deck pad, fin(s) and leash?
I go thr ough Rainbow Fins Distributing here in Florida for the deck pad(Xtrak) which I was told by a surf shop that Xtrak is possibly going under. I also get the fins from there but go to FCS for the leashes. I’ve gotten the fiberglass adjustable paddles from Rainbow at that price but was trying to get carbon seeing how thats a popular material for paddles. The only other option Im thinking is to make my own blanks instead of buying USblanks. That would definately cut the blank price in half. Im able to get the eps foam blocks and basswood for stringer local.
I waited for a year for a “pro” to get me a paddle, and he didn’t do what he said; then I waited for a supplier to get me one, from a container, that never seemed to come in- shows how important I am. Then I started making my own, and they’re better than what is on the market, but super time consuming to make. Now I ask you, why would you want to make a board only to propel it with a cheapo paddle? Make it yourself, and come up with a better mouse trap. The paddle angle is about 10 degrees. Snapped a couple early on, but now I know what works for me so well that when “whitey” was swimming under me a few weeks ago, I felt secure enough that if he tried something I was ready to jam him with my edge; a couple of my friends said he’d knock me off and that would be it, but I can assure you, I felt like I had the upper hand.
My thoughts exactly ghettorat. I'm not hounded by orders so time consuming isn't an issue right now. I've seen them make the heads with what appears as skimboard foam and then rap it with carbon cloth up either a wood rod or composite. Zap skimboards manufacturing warehouse is in my home town and I grew up with Bob Smetts' sons so I could ask for info on the foam. But was curious about other materials.
I would ask them for their scraps to make the paddle heads. Experiment, test and have fun in the process. I can tell you, as a craftsman, I feel much better with my paddle in my hand. China paddles are for kooks.
Buy CF tube and cut it on a table saw at 10 degrees. It ships only in 48" lengths so you’ll need a smaller sized tube inside to join the pieces. For the blade, make an oversized (about 1/4") template out of plywood. Cover with wax paper and lam with 15-16 layers of 6 or 8 oz; the outer layers are CF. Hotcoat, cut it out to the exact outline and sand. Rig up a jig to hold the tube at the cut angle against the face of the blade and bond it using a thick cabosil mix, and make some fillets around the joint. Carefully sand and then lam the tube on the blade using 6 oz. Sandwich the tube between several layers of cloth at the transition of the blade/tube (grind to blend with the blade later). Hotcoat, sand, spray it with clear. Glue the edging around the blade. Do everything with poly resin. Buy a plastic T handle or make a wooden one.