Pontoon Rookie Questions

[Floattubr]

New owner of a Buck's 9' Ex and trying to figure out the best Oar location of the three options and Oar Length/Placement of the collar? I'm 6-4 with Long arms and fishin' still waters only.
Also is there a swivel seat out there I can retro to this toon'??
Thanks in advance to the All Knowing out there. You guys are a great help.

[Lead Bouncer]

The oar handles have to be far enough apart to get past your body.
Since your big, you probably have long arms. That means you can probably use the settings, farthest away from the seat. Its simply a matter of comfort while rowing. You should not have to lean WAAAY forward, and the stroke is going to end at your chest. The college rowers have seats on sliders, so they get more travel and leverage.

Since you have scotty oar locks, they are offset. just try them both ways. I never bothered to ask if one was position was correct. The swivel base will raise you up a little which is good for fly casting. You'll a aluminum or wood plate to bolt to the frame and mount the swivel to the seat. They are generic boat seats. Mount the swivel to the seat and then the swivel to the base. predrill and fit everything. small lag bolts are one option and small carriage bolts mounted through the seat under the butt pad are the other option.

Bucks are great.

[GraphiteZen]

The position of the oar locks really is not important if you have a movable seat. I have seen these setups and the max difference is about 3 or 4 inches. It really makes no difference.

As far as the oar collars go, dump them and go buy a set of Oar Rights. You won't regret it. What they do is lock your oar at a certain length in the oar lock just like a ring, but also prevent the oar from twisting in your hand. You may not know it, but trying to keep both blades at the same angle to the water takes up a lot of time and can tire your forearms out in heavy water.

As far where to place the ring, you should have about a half inch space between the ends of the handles when the oars are perpendicular to the pontoons and level with the surface of the water. If they are positioned like this and you can't get the handles past your body on a back stroke, you're sitting too far forward.

Do you have plastic oar locks? I have seen this on Bucks Bags boats.

[Floattubr]

The position of the oar locks really is not important if you have a movable seat. I have seen these setups and the max difference is about 3 or 4 inches. It really makes no difference.

As far as the oar collars go, dump them and go buy a set of Oar Rights. You won't regret it. What they do is lock your oar at a certain length in the oar lock just like a ring, but also prevent the oar from twisting in your hand. You may not know it, but trying to keep both blades at the same angle to the water takes up a lot of time and can tire your forearms out in heavy water.

As far where to place the ring, you should have about a half inch space between the ends of the handles when the oars are perpendicular to the pontoons and level with the surface of the water. If they are positioned like this and you can't get the handles past your body on a back stroke, you're sitting too far forward.

Do you have plastic oar locks? I have seen this on Bucks Bags boats.

Zen, you are the man. I have the brass locks. I will look for the Oar Rights today. Thanks again

[GraphiteZen]

No problem. I will add one more thing about the position of the Oar Right. If you have 6' oars and you position the Oar Right so there is a half inch of space between the handles, you may not have enough length on the other side of the lock to get enough of the blade in the water. Check that. If you can spend the money I would definately go with 7' oars if you don't have them. Later.