Introducing Custom Engraved Canoe Paddles
7-minute read
After years of customer requests, we’re happy to introduce our Bending Branches Custom Engraved Paddle—the perfect gift or memento for the canoe lovers in your life.
Are you looking for a personal and unique piece of artwork for yourself or a loved one that’s heirloom quality? Maybe it’s for a birthday or anniversary, maybe a wedding gift, or in honor of a new grandchild.
We now offer a custom-engraved canoe paddle that has all the beauty and craftsmanship of every Bending Branches wood paddle. But this one is personalized to whatever event or person you have in mind, to use as wall art.
Whether it’s for your own home or the home or cabin of someone you love, it will never go out of style. It will be as lovely to look at 50 years from now as it is today—with maybe a little dusting here and there.
And these are truly unique: Because each paddle is hand-made by us and designed by you, no two are the same.
We have three different options available. With each, you can be sure we take as much care with these decorative paddles as we do with those we know will get beat up on the lake. We use the same process to handcraft them as we do for our “real” wood canoe paddles in our Osceola factory.
Our Original Model: Custom Engraved Paddle
Our Custom Engraved Paddle is a 52-inch paddle that uses a combination of basswood, red alder and maple (like many of our for-the-water paddles) for that rich multi-colored wood look in the blade, shaft and palm grip.
This model is ideal if you’d like a family name, cabin name or the names of your gift recipient(s) engraved on the blade to make it ultra-personalized. You can also include one of many different image options.
The blade is a hefty 121 square inches (781 cm2) and even tipped with our Rockgard edge protection like all our wood paddles. In fact, if you really wanted to, you could use this paddle on the lake with your canoe. It’s lightweight—just 25 ounces/709 grams—which makes it extra easy to hang.
Design Your Custom Engraved Paddle
On the product page, you’ll see a whole list of design options: headline, subtexts and images. This is how it works:
- Choose one of four designs. Each design has different options for text placement and sizes.
- Type in the text you want on the paddle, using one of the 26 font choices for each headline or subtext (use all the same or all different fonts, it’s up to you).
- If your design includes an image, you then choose the one you want. First, choose one of five image families (fishing, canoes/cabins, camping, plants/trees/landscapes or animals), then choose the image you like best from that family.
Here’s what the mockup images look like—lots of options to get the right look for you
You also get to choose how you want the engraving placed on the paddle blade—up, down, left or right—depending on how it’ll be displayed.
The product page includes a mock-up image where you can see right away how the fonts and images will look once they’re engraved. So play around until you get the look you’re happy with.
[Be sure to review all your spelling, dates, images and placement for accuracy before you click “Add to Cart.” Because these paddles are custom, they’re not eligible for returns or exchanges.]
Custom Nature Decorative Paddle • 52-inch
One of two newer engraved paddle options is our Custom Nature Decorative Paddle. It’s very similar to the Custom Engraved Paddle in length, blade size and the woods used in the blades. It has the same multi-colored wood blade that’s so attractive (fashioned from basswood, red alder and maple) and includes our Rockgard edging along the blade tip.
The difference is in the engraving. As you can see from the images above, the Custom Engraved Paddle generally has more text and a smaller image. The Custom Nature Decorative Paddle is designed to feature a large image that covers most of the paddle blade.
Design Your Custom Nature Decorative Paddle
First, you’ll need to decide whether you’d like the image to be engraved vertically or horizontally on the blade. Which way will you hang it?
Then, click the orientation you’ve decided on. You’ll see 23 different image options to be engraved over the surface of the blade. Some include popular sayings like “Life is Better at the Lake,” and some are just nature scenes, like those shown above.
After you’ve selected the image, you have the option of typing in a short line of text that can be engraved on the paddle shaft. You have three font choices for this. If you don’t want any text, just leave that box blank.
You’ll get a preview of your custom paddle so you’ll know how it’ll look once we’ve finished it.
[Be sure to carefully review all your spelling, dates, images and placement for accuracy before you click “Add to Cart.” Because these paddles are custom, they’re not eligible for returns or exchanges.]
Custom Nature Decorative Paddle • 36-inch
Maybe you love the idea of a custom engraved, hand-crafted canoe paddle, but the two options above don’t fit your budget (2026 prices are $259.95) or your wall space. We have a third option for you: our 36-inch Custom Nature Decorative Paddle.
This model is still handcrafted with care, but with select hardwoods and without the multi-colored look of the 52-inch models. With its shorter length, your hanging options multiply. And its blade is still sized with plenty of space for one of the same 23 different image options available for the larger paddle.
Design your 36-inch Custom Nature Decorative Paddle
The design process is the same as with the 52-inch model. Choose vertical or horizontal orientation, then choose which image you’d like us to engrave on the blade. Decide on any text you’d like engraved on the shaft and which font you’d like us to use.
Take a look at the preview options (either full paddle or split view), then check the box to approve your customization (remember, custom engraved paddles are final sale and not eligible for returns or exchanges).
After You Place Your Order
Once you’ve made your purchase, we get to work crafting your paddle and then moving on to our laser engraving process. Your online mockup gives you a helpful preview of the design, while the handcrafted nature of each paddle means every finished piece has its own unique character.
Once you place your order, give us 7-10 days to create the paddle, do the engraving, package it up, and ship it out.
Add a Leather Hanging Kit
You may want to add one of our Leather Hanging Kits for your custom engraved paddle as well:
Vertical Display Kit includes one brown premium leather strap with a plated snap in a brass finish. It also includes one screw and drywall anchor. The paddle can be hung from the blade or the grip (depending on which way the design faces).
Horizontal Display Kit includes two brown premium leather straps, each with a brass-finished snap. It includes two screws and drywall anchors.
Bending Branches Custom Engraved Paddles are Ideal for Gifting
Give one to special people for their cabin or lake home. For a wedding gift or milestone anniversary. For a loved one’s retirement…a family heirloom or legacy piece…or holiday or housewarming.
Or gift one to yourself. You’ll love seeing it on your own walls, too.
It’s the kind of gift people don’t forget—and don’t replace.
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or bbinfo@bendingbranches.com, or choose our online chat option.
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