DriftBoat Oar's

[MetalHead]

Ok Guy's I have a question. My son and I are building a driftboat (I will post pictures as soon as I can get it to let me) my question is around oar length. The boat is 53" wide on the bottom and 73 inches wide at the beam. 14' 10'' long. How long should my oars be? I seem to remember something about the oars being 1 1/2 times the width of the beam but not sure. Thanks for your help.

[Salmon Stryker]

How high are the sides? I'm thinking you will want 9'6" but the main thing is the angle of the oars to the water. You don't want to be pulling oars up around shoulder or even pectoral height. You want to be pulling about six inches or so above your lap....it's much easier and you won't wear out nearly as fast.

The best thing to do is try out some oars if you can and find a size or style that you feel comfortable with. Oars are spendy but very important as far as comfort and ease. Good luck.

[Up-4-Air]

When I bought my drift boat, used, it came with 8' 6" oars. It is a 16' by 48" Fishrite. It's 6' from oar lock to oar lock. The 8' 6" oars were way to short. My hands were uncomfortably seperated while rowing and at times the oars would skip on the water rather than dig in as I was rowing. I decided to replace them with 9' 4" oars. Big mistake! Now my hands were knocking together as I rowed. Had to replace them with 9' 0" oars. The 9' 0" oars are perfect. I also know a guide who has a 54" bottom boat. He prefer 9" 0" also. It's an expensive mistake if you get the wrong ones so be careful. :smile:

[flymadness]

Your boat tends to be in the inbetween width for most people(8.5' or 9'). You are just going to have to try a pair of each before you buy(if that is possible). I personally prefer to have my hands a bit apart, which coincides with the 8.5', but if you like to row with your thumbs almost touching off the end of the oar handles then go with the 9's. Also remember that the 9's will give you a little more power in the stroke because you get a longer pull, but the 8.5' allow you to make more maneuverable quick strokes if you have to do a lot of ferrying. Look forward to seeing your boat. FM

[Grantspastor]

9' should be the best choice. If you're going to err...porbably better to go little longer rather than shorter...if possible borrow a set and try them

[rags]

I just bought a set of 9' Cataracts at Fishermens Marine today. They have them for 20% off. They're regular $170 each so you can save almost $70. I've been rowing my 16' Alumaweld with 9 footers for a long time and that length works great.

[DollarBill]

Metalhead, the best thing to do would be try different lengths when your boat is finished. I'm sure between all the readers of the board we have just about every size there is. I have 81/2 & 9's and would be willing to help. Just post when you're ready. $Bill