Danny Brown is making a canoe paddle. Or, depending on your point of view, he's creating a piece of art. Those who own his Whiskeyjack canoe paddles are split on the issue.

Testing four canoe paddle options (from Bending Branches, Mitchell, Sanborn and Grey Owl) to answer one question: What if I could only own a single canoe paddle ...

It only takes about 25 minutes of labor to make a canoe paddle at Sanborn Canoe Company, but it can take up to three weeks between gluing the first strips together and painting the final colors ...

Sanborn Canoe Company builds exquisite paddles fit to hang on the wall, or dip in a lake. We visit their workshops in southern Minnesota.

Outdoors Prepare to paddle: Fall is a beautiful season for canoeing, but make sure to take appropriate precautions Published: Oct. 29, 2012, 1:01 p.m.