A brief history of stand up paddleboarding

THE HISTORY OF STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING

The canoe or dugout has been in existence for almost as long as human beings have, and was found all over the planet in many different cultures. It was used for many purposes, one of them being for fishing. Ancient fishermen were the some of the earliest known stand up paddlers; sometimes long paddles were used for propelling the vessel along. In shallower waters, a pole was often times the tool of choice used for moving the vessel along through the water. But whether a canoe or a small boat, whether a pole or a paddle was used, the common denominator was the fact that the operators were standing upright in their vessels.

Image credit: http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/index.php?type=ship&id=12

In more modern times, the early Hawaiians were some of the best known proponents of using paddles in conjunction with surfboards, as opposed to canoes, small boats, or gondolas like the ones used in Venice, Italy. They may in fact be the inventors of modern paddleboarding; the technique observed among many early Hawaiian paddleboarders is still in use today.

The wonderful art of woodworking

The wonderful art of woodworking
 written by: Michael Monev

In these days of technological advancements it's really a shame to see many traditional crafts slowly dying. One such craft is woodworking - the process of creating incredible items from one of the most abundant and also renewable resources on Earth: wood. It is an ancient art that can be traced back to the era of Neanderthals. Early humans had only access to stone, mud, and wood, so woodworking has been an integral part of human society for quite a while. Not only that, but wood also played an essential role in the development of human civilization - in both cultural and construction aspects.

Today, wood is most used as a resource for mass production construction of buildings such as homes or apartments . It is becoming harder and harder to find devoted artisans as there is little demand for wooden art. Below, I will list several reasons why it is a wonderful thing to work with wood.

Wood is natural
Whether it's about a sculpture, a chest to store your belongings, or just a piece of furniture, wooden items have a link with nature. In many cultures, forests and trees are associated with wisdom and longevity. The more this material is present at your home, in the form of various items, the better the feeling of a natural environment would be. Because wood has been part of the human life for thousands of years, keeping it close to you delivers an additional feeling of calmness and tranquility. Can you relax in an office where everything is made of glass and metal? And now imagine that same office having a stylish wooden desk with ornaments, a small figurine on top of it, a polished cabinet next to the wall... Brings an entire different atmosphere, doesn't it?

Wood is easy to work with
All you need to work with wood is a simple set of tools. When artisans carve figurines, they enjoy what they do. They can easily apply their imagination on the piece before them. And they also pass on all the joy and fun they have to their artworks. If you have the heart you can feel the creators' emotions through their works. This cannot be so easily achieved with other materials because it's a lot harder to shape and manipulate them.

You can find it anywhere
As we already established, wood is an abundant resource. It's everywhere around us. It's true that most crafts require a specific type of wood, but if you're not picky you can use pretty much any type you can get your hands on. It may be a problem if you are trying to craft a musical instrument (for example, a violin), but it won't stop you from making a trinket or a figurine. And if you really need a particular type for your project, you can easily find a supplier, order it, and have it delivered to you.

It's durable
After proper treatment, wood can last for a long while. A very long one. Timber products were found in the pyramids, and they were still good, thousands of years later! So it's safe to assume that whatever you create with wood will live on for centuries to come. And what better way to pass on your spirit to the following generations than to do so through your wooden pieces of art?

Wood is a classic material
Because of the human attachment to this matter, there is a certain amount of aristocracy about it. It's undeniable that most nobles worldwide order handcrafted wooden furniture for their places of residence. Many classic musical instruments are worth millions because of the unique sound produced by the combination of a specific type of wood with the skillful craft of a master. Wood is a high-class material, which, in the right hands, can become an object worthy of the history books.

Woodworking is definitely a craft worthy of attention. The magnificence of wooden items should be present at every home. People need to appeal to their naturalistic side and realize the great potential this trade has. For something that will outlive us by centuries, wood works can preserve our impressions, ideas and passions into one tiny little sculpture, a great way to achieve artistic immortality. And if you are just an admirer of the art - support the artists by getting some of their work for you to appreciate and be the proud owner of something unique, the result of a lot of hard work and passion.

How to build a stand up paddleboard paddle out of wood!

How to build a stand up paddleboard paddle out of wood!

To make this paddle you will need to reference the blog post "How to make a simple mold to build your own Wood SUP paddles"

How to make a simple mold to build your own Wood SUP paddles

The strongest way I can think of to make a paddle is to use multiple strips of wood and glue them together for strength. Similar to how a skateboard deck is put together. If the skateboard deck was just one layer of wood, it would be way too flexible and weak to support the skaters weight as he or she bashes it from all angles. That is why skate decks usually have 7 layers of various woods all glued and pressed together in a mold.

In this article, I am going to show you step by step exactly how to make a simple and cheap paddle mold. You will need some tools to make this easier. I'll list them below.

Tools you will need:

1. Protractor
2. Pencil
3. Straight edge
4. Speed square
5. Table saw
6. Chop saw / miter saw / or hand saw
7. F Clamps
8. Sanding block (120 grit sand paper)
9. Block plane / Jack plane / or Jointer if available 
10. Tape measure

Materials you will need:

1. (1) 2X4X8' standard stud (Duglas Fir)
2. wood glue (Tite bond 3 is perferable)
3. Masking tape
4. Thin piece of scrap plywood

Step 1: Marking the first cut

Lay your 2X4X8 board flat down on the ground. With your tape measure, measure out 16" from the edge. You can use a speed square to mark a straight line across the board. 

Step 2: Cut and separate the 16" block

Cut along the line you marked with your chop saw / miter saw / or hand saw. 

Step 3: Rotate the 16" block

Rotate the 16" block so that the broad side is facing you. 

Step 3: Marking the angle

Place the center of your protractor on the bottom right hand corner of the block. With a straight edge and a pencil, mark out a line that extends at a 10° angle from the corner. 

Step 4: Cutting the angle

Use your table saw to cut this long piece. WARNING: Do not attempt to free hand this cut on a table saw. You WILL rotate the block in the cut and it WILL shoot back out at you. This could possibly lead to injury or death. Instead use a sacrificial piece of wood to use as a guide. This sacrificial piece of wood will ride against the fence of the table saw. Use masking tape to attach the 16" block to the sacrificial piece of wood at the 10° angle. 

Step 5: Mark the second angle

Use your protractor to mark a second 10° angle from the corner shown above to the edge of the block. 

Step 6: Make the second cut

Use your table saw to cut the second piece of the block in the same exact way you cut the first block. Use a sacrificial piece of wood to ride along the table saw fence. 

Step 7: Align the two pieces next to each other

Create a large double ramp with the two blocks of wood. Try your best to align them together. If the ramps are not exactly aligned at the same 10° angle, you can use a jointer or block plane to bring them flush with each other. Touch it up with your sanding block. 

Step 8: Glue and clamp together

Once your pieces are aligned, you can now glue the bottom of the ramps to the flat side of the stud. Apply a generous amount of wood glue and clamp down with your F clamps. Let it cure for an hour. 

*You might have a gap in between your ramps. This is ok. Make sure your ramps are flush with the edge of the stud so that you have a gap in between the ramps. You can then use a scrap piece of thin plywood to cover the gap. 

Thats it! Your new wood SUP paddle mold is now complete! See the next article on how you can use this mold to make your own paddles! 

-Dennis Jiron

What type of wood do I use to make my own Hollow Wood Stand up Paddleboards?

When I first began my journey of building Hollow Wooden Stand Up Paddleboards, I was not sure where to begin. I did a lot of research but it was unclear of what wood I should purchase and from where I would get it. Then I stumbled upon the answer; Western Red Cedar.

What is Western red cedar?

Western red cedar is an evergreen coniferous tree in the family Cupressaceae. It grows at low-to-mid elevations along the coast and in the web belt of the interior, where the climate is cool, mild and moist. The western red cedar is a large tree that can grow up to 60 meters tall when mature and 2.5 meters in diameter.

WRC is:

1. Durable
2. Dimensional stable 
3. Light weight
4. Low density
5. Moderately Soft
6. Strong
7. Rot resistant
8. Somewhat bug resistant
9. Easily bonded with wood glue
10. Easy to shape and sand
11. Easy to cut with a hand saw
12. Great looking
13. Great smelling

I personally enjoy working with western red cedar. As I stated in the list, it has a very distinct aromatic smell to it, especially when it is cut. It is remarkably strong for how light it is. You can even soak long pieces in water for a few days or more and take them out and bend them slightly to shape.*note* I have not been able to bend the WRC a full 180, but I'm sure it can be done with the use of a steam box. 

Humble Beginings

My first wood sup w/ Wood paddle

A while back, while watching YouTube videos, I randomly stumbled upon people having fun on these things called stand up paddleboards. It was fascinating. I wanted to do it too. Then I discovered that some of these people build their own boards out of wood. Right then and there I decided to build my own.

I went to the local hardware store and bought :

• a jig saw
• angle grinder
• belt sander
• hand saw
• block plane
• wood glue
• 3 squeeze clamps
• 3 F clamps
• Cedar made specifically for building fences

That's right. I built my first sup, with very minimal tools. I even cut and shaped fence pickets to construct the board. Needless to say, I was unable to reduce the thickness of the boards unless I spent hours shaving them with my small block plane. In hindsight, a power hand planner would have been beneficial. After everything was put together, I realized that I had created a barge! This first board must have weighed 50lbs at least! It was only 10' long and 30" across.

The pros and cons of that first board

Pro:

• Heavier weight = more momentum
• Thicker rails = strength
• The fin was glassed in. Sturdy and long. For a VERY stable board. 

Con:

• It was too heavy to carry for long distances with one person
• It was not aesthetically pleasing too look at
• I had poor ventilation
• Glassed in fin is difficult to replace

This first board was not just a project. This was a learning process. I learned much more in the months I spent building this than I could have learned from watching a lifetime of YouTube videos. I learned how to use all of my tools. I also discovered that there are no wrong or right ways to do something but you can always find a better way. You can always improve upon your last design, build, or modification. 

“The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.”

— Will Smith