-- Last Updated: Nov-13-12 9:42 AM EST --
Hi Jay,
When I said above "the power hand plane is especially effective in Greenland paddle making" I was referring to the electric plane. There are many ways to skin the cat. Using much more expensive power machines, one can make a paddle very fast using a band saw and a jointer, finishing with a block plane, spokeshave and random orbital sander.
I choose to use hand tools, for the reasons stated in post above. It's certainly not the only method or the absolutely "best" method: each paddle maker can choose their method for their own reasons.
Dave