The GEMINI IV and V series of paddles were designed for freestyle or sport paddling, but have appealed to paddlers who just appreciate a fine paddle.  I don't know of anyone in the US making a similar paddle today.  They are based on a combination of the Pat Moore and Craig Quimby paddles from the 1980's but tailored to our more modern canoe designs.
 
They are designed and built to provide the ultimate in water performance.  The blade is shaped with a more squared than rounded end and softer shoulders as compared to the Honey Island Cruisers.  The shaft is tapered further into the blade than the Honey Island Cruisers.   This gives the blade a smoother in water performance when using feathering strokes.  These features also provide  improved initial catch , and allow precise paddle strokes closer to the hull.

The all book matched cedar blade is shaped with a tapering diamond shape to flat at the tip- making the large blades very stiff and keeping the optimal shape for smooth in-water recovery strokes.  The hard and durable  blade edges  are very thin(I try for under 1/8”) help to minimize the in-water resistance.

The shaft is laminated from two strips of cedar with a center strip of ash to provide the stiffness required, and still be light in weight.

The blade and shaft are sealed with 3 coats of marine epoxy for durability, with a partial layer of fiberglass on the blade to provide strength without excess weight and a 15” long fiberglass sleeve on the shaft to provide damage resistance to the inevitable contact with the gunnel.  The paddles are then finished with a minimum of 3 coats of varnish, generally 5 or 6 until it is right.  The final coat is satin finish coat  giving the paddle a  lovely soft, rich appearance.  The grip is given two coats of Watco exterior oil to seal the wood, buffed with steel wool and the finished with boiled linseed oil.

If you wonder why the Gemini IV is the larger blade it is because it was made before the smaller Gemini V.

The grip is a cross between a Canadian palm style and a football grip that is commonly seen on some of the Sawyer paddles.  A Canadian palm is a constant radius curve machined into the shaft with a somewhat flattened surface then a rounded top.  The football grip that Sawyer has come up with is glued to the end of the shaft.  I glue two face pieces on the glued on grip then band saw and sand the final shape coming up with I think the best of both, an easily held grip that is an integral part of the shaft.  Since the grip is hand sanded to shape I can easily customize it to some extent.  Sorry, I don't do the individual finger slots the Pat Moore used to do.  I also charge less than Pat Moore or Craig Quimby did in 1985.

I have have also started making by request a larger grip.  It is 4 inches wide and 1-3/8” thick with much less of a football shape.  So far it has received praise.  

GEMINI VI

I have also made several sets of bent shaft paddles for tandem canoers.  In contrast to a normal flat back bent shaft paddle the blade is symmetrical on a bent shaft.  For the freestylers I use the Gemini IV large blade.  I built one by mistake  using the smaller Gemini V blade and have used it on several mellow river trips in the Ozarks with our grandchildren and it has worked wonderfully.  The dynel edge and tip have protected the blade from damage.  Just an altogether nice traveling paddle.  I wouldn't recommend for trying to go fast as it still is a much larger blade than any standard bentshaft and would be quite tiring to use.  Built on either an 8 or 10  degree form the result is a bend of either 10 or 12 degrees.  For solo use I would guess that I would recommend the 10 degree net to allow slightly better control strokes.  The grip is a softened version of the classic Charley Wilson design cobra grip, very comfortable.  The shaft in this case is 4  laminates of western cedar with a center core layer of ash.   This is one of my favorite cruising paddles. 

Specifications:

Blade:             Gemini IV:  8-1/2”x 24”
                        Gemini V:   8”x 22-1/2”
                        Gemini VI:  either blade

The blades are laminated from book matched, vertical grain western cedar with dynel edges and a partial sheet of fiberglass on each side.

Shaft: 

The shaft is oval shaped  with dimensions of 1-1/4” x 1-1/8”.  The shaft has a 15” fiberglass shaft sleeve sealed in epoxy to eliminate splinters.

The GEMINI IV shaft lengths of 33” to 36” are recommended although shorter lengths can be made with a resulting loss in balance.  Don't even ask to get one counterbalanced with lead weights.  I've tried and never successfully.  The most popular lengths are 34” to 36”.  Typical weight is 25 oz

The GEMINI V shaft lengths from 30” to 36”.  Typical weight  is 23 oz.

Grip:  The classic Canadian palm/football grip can be left slightly oversize so that the paddler can tune the final shape if desired.

Price:    $255

PS,  Please don't break these guys, they are extremely difficult to repair due to the blade thickness.  I have done it, but it isn't a lot of fun.  If the blade cracks, but doesn't break off it is often more easily repairable.

Coming, hopefully soon, a new version of the Blackburn Lutra Pro in 2-1/2 degree .  By the way Lutra is the scientific name for the genus of the river otter, sleek and fast, really rather fitting.