Paddle Care

If properly taken care of a paddle will last a lifetime and will propel you along many hundreds of kilometers.  The care and maintenance of a wooden canoe paddle is minimal but important.  To keep the moisture out, at the start of the paddling season lightly sand a varnished paddle and coat it with a high quality marine grade varnish.  This will keep the wood from absorbing moisture which will cause it to swell, twist, and crack.  For an oiled paddle, periodically throughout the season apply a light coat of boiled linseed oil with a rag.  let it sit for 30 minutes then wipe off any excess.  

Possibly the most important thing you can do to preserve the life of a fine paddle is KEEP IT OFF THE ROCKS!  A high quality wooden paddle should never be used to push off of rocks or even a sandy lake bottom, nothing is harder on a paddle. Personally I always travel with two paddles, my beat up but durable white water paddle and a high end touring paddle.  Whenever launching / landing or in shallow water I pull out the white water paddle just in case I tap a rock.