Carve Your Own Canoe Paddle

Learn how to carve an heirloom quality canoe paddle (2 styles) using an axe and basic tools. Step-by-step videos from choosing your board to final finishing walk you through the build. Downloadable tracing patterns included!

Watch Intro Video

JOIN ME - Carve Your Own Canoe Paddle!

- Jamie Boggs -

Course Objectives

What can you expect to learn?

  • Tool & Axe Carving Safety

  • How to choose the right piece of lumber

  • Which paddle style is best for you?

  • Design & Layout of BOTH Ottertail and Beavertail Style Canoe Paddles

  • Axe Carving Techniques

  • [BONUS] How to make a Laminated Canoe Paddle

  • How to finish and preserve a paddle for years of outdoor use

[BONUS SKILL]

LAMINATED CANOE PADDLE

As a bonus video, Jamie teaches how to turn scrap lumber into beautiful canoe paddles through a woodworking process called 'laminating'. You won't believe the canoe paddles you can create from strips of lumber that would normally be thrown away!
[BONUS SKILL]

DOWNLOADABLE PATTERNS

- FREE WITH COURSE -

Included with the course are 2 FREE Downloadable Pattern Templates for the OTTERTAIL and BEAVERTAIL style canoe paddles. These templates can be printed out at home and traced onto lumber to make the process even easier.
DOWNLOADABLE PATTERNS

Meet Your Instructor

  • James Boggs

    Owner, Burning River Bushcraft

    James Boggs

    James was raised in an outdoor life style. He grew up shooting, hunting, fishing, camping and trapping at every opportunity. After 20 years as a competitive shooter he retired from competition after winning an IDPA State Title. He continues to teach firearm classes as an NRA instructor. James has studied short and long term wilderness skills, urban survival, wilderness first aid, herbal medicine, botany and wildcrafting, green woodworking, knapping, blacksmithing, bladesmithing, bowmaking and trapping. He is passionate about learning, testing and developing new skills. He enjoys passing on these skills either in person, as an Instructor at Campcraft Outdoors, through YouTube and Online courses. If he is not working on a new skill or sitting silently in a tree stand watching a game trail, he is probably spending time with his wife of over 20 years and their two kids.

Course Curriculum

  • 1
    Welcome to the Course!
    • Terms & Conditions, Disclaimers, and Waiver of Liability
    • WELCOME: Get ready to Carve Your Own Canoe Paddle!
  • 2
    Tools, Materials, and Safety
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Required Tools
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Types of Carving Axes
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Carving Safety
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Axe Carving Techniques
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Choosing Material for a One Piece Wooden Paddle
  • 3
    Carving an OTTER TAIL CANOE PADDLE
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Choosing a Paddle Type and Length
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Paddle Layout [+ OTTERTAIL PATTERN DOWNLOAD]
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Profiling with a Hatchet
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Hewing the Paddle Blade
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Rasping & Detail Work
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Finishing the Paddle
  • 4
    BONUS SKILLS
    • [BONUS VIDEO] Laminating a Canoe Paddle
    • [BONUS VIDEO] Checkerboard Stop Cuts
  • 5
    Carving a BEAVER TAIL CANOE PADDLE
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Carving a Beaver Tail Paddle [+ BEAVERTAIL PATTERN DOWNLOAD]
  • 6
    CLOSING REMARKS
    • Carving a Canoe Paddle: Alternate Tool Options
    • Testing the Completing Paddles
    • Final Thoughts