Re-wrapping oars

[Wet_Willy]

Something that I've been meaning to do but haven't is re-wrap my drift boat oars. Has anybody out there done this? Any pointers or supplies that can be suggested?

WW

[Simon Peter]

I've never had to re-wrap oars but check at the Fishermans supply in Oregon City.

I also have use Fisheries Supply in Seattle for marine applications. You might check them for items like that (800)426-6930.

Good luck - sounds like a pain!

[jkfrabel]

I rewrapped my oars...It's alot easier than it looks, and I saved about fifty bucks. E-mail me and I can give you all the info needed to do it...Jeff

[GBSkunk]

I went to Fishermans last week to get some 3/16" rope to wrap my oars. They didn't have any but he told me that Clackacraft would wrap them for $10.00 per oar. Pretty good deal.

[jkfrabel]

Fishermans told me that 2 years ago...When I called Clackacraft he said it would cost 20 bucks an oar and it would take about a week.I dont know maybe he was having a bad day or something. When I told him I didnt want to wait a week and I would just figure out how to do it myself he just laughed and said good luck....Well I figured out how to do it myself and all it cost was about 10 bucks total for all my material...Thats with buying rope twice because I underestimated how much rope it took to do each oar...It only took about 30 min to do both oars and that was 2 years ago...I use my boat 2 times a week average in the winter, and have not had one problem with my wrap job. Wrapping your oars is way to easy, wouldnt even pay someone 10 bucks a oar....I dont know just my .02.....Jeff

[chromer]

Wrapping an oar is just like wrapping an eye on your rod, only on a larger scale.

Here's the basics:

1.) Select your rope (just about any will work - nylon, poly, etc.) Size depends on preference and the inside diameter of your oar locks. Some like a tight fit others loose. 3/16 inch rope is about right for most. You'll need 20 - 50 feet, make sure you have too much rather than too little.

2.) Determine the section of oar to be wrapped and mark it. You can use a crayon, tape, etc.

3.) At one end of the area to be wrapped tape the rope to the oar with a small piece of duct tape. Tape about 3 inches of rope.

4.) Now start your wrap by wrapping over the top of the taped rope. Keep the rope as tight as possible and make sure that each wrap is tight against the previous. I like to wear a pair of leather gloves to help keep a tight grip on the rope.

5.) About 3 inches before you get to the end of your wrap place a heavy piece of cord (I like to use a boot lace)under the wrap so that a loop is formed toward the direction you are wrapping and the ends lay on top of the previous wraps. Next lightly spray the remaining oar to be wrapped with PAM cooking spray.

6.) Finish the wrap. Cut your rope so that you have about 6 - 8 inches left and place it into the previously formed loop. Now pull the free ends so that the loop holds the rope end tight against the last wrap.

7.) Now have a cig or cup of coffee and get ready for the hard part.

8.) The goal of this step is to pull the end of the rope under the previous wraps using the loop. Sounds easy, but if your wraps are tight it will take some effort. I like to wrap the free ends around a piece of wood several times to use as a handle. A couple of wraps of duct tape helps hold it. Now pull the rope under.

9.) Trim the pulled through end as close to the wraps as possible and lightly melt with a match. To get a nice clean looking finish I like to burnish the wrap using a round rod like a size 3 Phillips screw driver. Doing so will even out the wraps and should allow you to actually get the trimmed end under the wraps so that you have nice finished look.

Its really pretty simple and not hard, but does take some time.

Good luck.

Chromer

[Wet_Willy]

Chromer,
No epoxy or anything under the rope, just bare rope pulled tightly against the oar?

I can do that. Thanks for the info everybody. I prefer to do things myself and you guys make it possible.

WW

[chromer]

WW:

I've wrapped several sets of wood oars without anything under the wraps with no problems. I haven't tried to wrap a set of composite shafts, but don't think it would be much different.

I currently am using a set of Cataracts. I checked them and they don't have anything under the wraps. It seems like I've seem some with a bead of epoxy at the top and bottom of the wraps. Looks like a good way to seal the wrap and keep it in place.