Oars

[Pete]

Tell me what you know about oars. I've been using my Sawyer 9'6" woodies for 15 years and I don't see any reason to change. But I don't see many wood oars on the rivers any more, so something is going on I don't know about.

Every season I do a minor tune-up on my oars; seal the cracks, patch the dings in the varnish and coat the blades with a layer of penetrating varnish. I like the idea of wood oars because they float if one is accidentally dropped overboard (though I've never had that happen), they have some resilience if they get wedged against something, when I've cracked one I was able to lash it back together and it worked fine for the rest of my trip, they seem relatively light to row and they aren't nearly as expensive as the other oars I see for sale.

But what's up with the other oars on the market? Are they lighter? Are they as resilient? Do they "grip" the water better? Is there some place to get them cheaper than I know of? Or are they just what comes on new boats?

[SAUKit2em]

I run 9' Cataract oars with the Magnum blades and I love them! Super light, super strong, and the larger blade gets a lot of bite in the water. I have been really hard on them and they hold up well. I've seen and heard of too many boats up here in WA that end up dumping because of they break wood oars going into rapids. It's a good feeling knowing that your equipment is going to hold up when you are banging and pushing your oars off of the rocks.

Another nice thing about the Cataracts is that the blades are interchangable so you can switch from Magnum blades to standard blades or vice versa. Oh, yeah there is no maintenance required with the Cataracts too. It would take years of abuse before you would have to replace the blades and the shafts should last a lifetime.

Good luck with your new oars and happy holidays.

[Fishing freak]

SAUKit2em, Do you mind if I ask you what you paid for them? I haven't priced them, just curious. Thanks.

[willierower]

I run 9'6" Cataracts on my boat. The oars I have now were on a boat that got wedged in a log jam and sank. One of the oars was wdged hard in the logs. As the boat was ripped out of the jam, the oar lock that the oar was in broke. The oar lock wasa Willie Hell for stout oarlock, I cant tell which oar was the one that took all the abuse. I guess that little incident tells you how tough those composite oars really are.
BTW. 9'6" Cataracts should cost no more than $350.00 a pair. I promise you they will last longer than you.

[NETONE]

Wooden Oars...I must really be the odd guy out..I have & built a wood driftboat (Rays) about 6 years ago..still looking flawless its warm in winter and even has wooden oars...never go to alum here...but I have to say I baby this one alot....