Riddonkulous

I am a simple wooden tool that helps a vessel glide, A lever cleaving water to defy the pulling tide. Now drop me right between two letters, and I will quickly turn, Into a flat and wooden plank, a thing to ride or burn. Add a letter to my front, and brutal strength you'll meet, A fierce and charging forest beast with hooves upon its feet. Prefix another letter, and my weight begins to clear, I lift away from earth to float and softly disappear.