Shaw & Tenney

Shaw & Tenney Welcome to Shaw & Tenney... makers of the world's finest traditionally handcrafted wooden oars and paddles since 1858.

Since 1858, Shaw & Tenney has quietly made a name for itself as the leading maker of wooden oars, paddles, spars and boat hooks in the country. Never one to boast or brag, we’ve preferred to let our products speak for themselves — each meticulously designed to deliver years of enjoyment on the water, and equal admiration for their hand-crafted beauty when off. From our simple workshop on the banks

of the Penobscot River, our craftsmen still employ time-honored manufacturing traditions that may seem old-world by today’s standards, but are the only way to render a product worthy of our name, and your trust.

06/10/2026

Our fabled dip tank is in full swing this time of year, as we try to get our oars and paddles into your hands as quickly as possible. It’s the same process we’ve been using for generations, and we think it’s still the best finish available.

05/31/2026

Plenty of shops cut out their oars and paddles with a CNC machine. Not here though. We shape ours by hand and by eye, like it’s still 1858. Who made your paddle?

05/29/2026

Fridays are great if you can get ‘em!

05/23/2026

Good luck to our friends aboard as they push off on their first cruise of the season. We outfitted their peapod with a new pair of Shaw and Tenney flat blades. Here’s to a great season!

05/20/2026

The edges don’t lie. On a mass-produced product, they’re an afterthought. But the edges are where our craftsmen shine. Each one is eased by hand, sanded through the grits, and felt before it’s finished. We’ve been doing it this way since 1858.

04/29/2026

From the shop floor to the open water. Every stroke starts in the hands of our craftspeople, shaping oars the same way we’ve been doing since 1858.

04/16/2026

From our loud dusty shop to your quiet home waters. Our paddles have been hand made in Orono Maine since before Lincoln was President.

03/30/2026

This, and no cell service.

Today is Orono’s 220th birthday. We’ve been making oars and paddles here for 168 years. That’s our old building on Main ...
03/12/2026

Today is Orono’s 220th birthday. We’ve been making oars and paddles here for 168 years. That’s our old building on Main St, circa 1938 (near where is today); second shot is our “new shop” circa 1950, and finally the “new shop” as it looks today. The fire alarm seen above the man-door in 1950 was tested this morning and still works.

02/06/2026

Who else is getting excited to hit the water this spring?

Address

20 Water Street
Orono, ME
04473

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Shaw & Tenney posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share