oar question

[B-run]

After reading the post the other day on boat sway, I am wondering what to do now.
My boat is being built as we speak, and is coming with composit oars. Should I switch to wood?
I have been told that composit respond the boat quicker, but???
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

composit oars are great I row boats with both types.

the boat sway your worried about can be helped by turning your blade so that it cuts into the water like a rudder. do that with both oars and you shouldnt have any problems at all.

as for the oar rights that were mentioned. if you turn the blades slightly in towards the boat at the top it will push the oar to the boat and you wont need the oar rights at all.

hope that answered your question if not I am sure someone else will be along before long with a better idea.

Quasi

.

[Salmonator]

I'm not sure what the oar is made out of has anything to do with sway on anchor, but if I had to guess I would think that the composites having a thinner blade would act more like a "rudder" and lessen sway. Especially using the oar-rite trick. I have a clackacraft, oarites and composite oars and really have no sway at all. My last boat was a diamondback with the same oar setup and it swayed horribly.

[ 01-25-2004, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[B-run]

Thanks folks.
The guy @ willie said the composit oars have a wider blade and dont float as high as a wood oar, so I was just wondering how the difference would affect any sway problems, and just general information from anyone as to a preference/performance.

[Mad Mikey]

IMO,

The main puropose of an oar is to help you manuever your boat, not reduce sway when you are anchored up.
First, get proper oars for handling your boat, then worry about the swaying stuff.
I started with wood, thinner blades were nice and the flex was great. Tried aluminum shafts for a few years just because I got a good deal on them and I'm so glad the darn things got stolen. That gave me enough reason to get some Cataracts. I'll never go back.
If you like to fish on anchor, the sway thing might be a bigger issue but it is not for me, I rarely fish on anchor anyways.
Enjoy your new boat!!! :smile:

[B-run]

I guess I should have worded my question differently. I don't sit on the hook that often, more important is if anyone has an opinion as to any positive or negatives of composite over wood.
Sorry to carry on, but I guess I am particular when it comes to these things. Cripes I wash my hands and glove up every time before I touch any fishing gear.
Anal? No, just extremely anal.

[Flatfish]

Both kinds do a fine job of manuvering the boat. The composites require less attention( upkeep) than wood. Composites also usually need to be counter balanced too.

How far your boat sways at anchor will not be affected by what kind of oar you have. Where your stern anchor pulley is bolted to the transom will affect swing a lot.

I would stay with the composites to start with. they are the hot item( sales wise) in the market now. So if you do decide wood is best, they( composites) would be much easier to sell.

Mark and the dog.

[Steelheader69]

Yeah, it's not always the oars. Sometimes it's the amount of anchor line let out. The more line from anchor to boat increases sway you can get. So, if all else, shorten the amount of line out. Then, as said above, keep the oars down in the water. This WILL help. Especially if you have a bit of sway. They do act as rudders, even fatter floating blades (like on the original cataract oars). They've worked wonders on my old catarafts and driftboats.

[cully]

Sawyer's Smoker Solid Ash wood oars are all I've ever used and I can't find one good reason to try anything else. Others can chime in about weight, flex, upkeep or what have you but I just don't have any negatives about what I row with. Just the ol' two cents.

[DanS]

I've rowed Sawyer woodies, aluminum oars and composites from Cataract and Lavro and I'd be happy with either the Sawyers or the composites. I'd row with a Slurpie straw before aluminum oars again.

[SlimPickens]

Get the oars you like to row with.

If your anal about sway, get a drift sock for $10 or a bucket. The sock will do more for anti-sway than oars hands down. Pretty easy to put a sock out and pull it up when you get a fish on. Tie it to the gunnel, flop it in and out as needed. I store my sock in the anchor nest when i do alot of anchor fishing with my kicker (bow anchored obviously).