8' oars?

[1lbtest]

I am looking for a pair of 8' oars as backup power for a 14' Lund. Does anyone know anything about different materials and companies? I was looking at the wooden Caviness oars with power grips. Is aluminum/carbon better? I need something that can take a fair amount of use/abuse (I fish Ontario lakes with lots of rocks...we often row through the shallow rocky areas we don't know) and can survive being stepped on occasionally. I was also trying to keep it under $120, or at least under $150 (or i might as well make 2 sets).

Also, has anyone ever used sculling oars? I was thinking I might look around for a used set, but I don't really know much about them.

Any help or leads would be wonderful

 

[JB]

Re: 8' oars?

Eight feet seems too long for a 14 footer, 1lb, unless it is a very wide boat.

In those conditions I used to sit on the bow and use a sculling paddle designed for one handed use so I could cast while controlling the boat. Much easier to control the boat from the bow, and to see any obstructions before hitting them.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 8' oars?

I agree 8' is a bit long for that boat, but it depends what your using them for too. Cheap oars like Caviness usually do better if they're wood, more power transfer. I really don't like the alluminum ones they make.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 8' oars?

and it takes a real man to handle 8 footers for very long. i've got some that have been in the attic of the garage for 20 years. i use 3 piece aluminum, the go together similar to a swimming pool pole. you can take the blade off and use as a push pole in shallows.

 

[1lbtest]

Re: 8' oars?

I calculated 8' using the 1/2 beam distance x3 +6" formula. The oarlocks are set at about the wide point of the boat...is this not right? I had some 6'8" oars last summer and my hands were about 3 feet apart while I was rowing in order to put the blades in the water (so much for oar balance).

I have looked for aluminum and synthetic oars in that price range and I've come up with nothing in 7.5-8' length. Are the caviness junk?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 8' oars?

In the NW you can get them any length you want, in wood, aluminum, glass and carbon. I have a set of 9.5s and 10s, but our boats are designed for oars of that length. The blades are interchangable on the glass, carbon and aluminum ones so you can cut them down to the size you need.

 

[1lbtest]

Re: 8' oars?

What is the NW?

sorry for the newbie question...I couldn't find it in search.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 8' oars?

I believe he means the Northwest. Caviness aren't junk, their alluminum poles just flex too much for me. Not a big deal if you're rowing across the lake, but it's a huge deal when you're in a class 10+ rapid.

 

[johnbo]

Re: 8' oars?

Considering that class 6 is pretty much unpassable (did one 5+ once, but in a paddle raft), I think that oars would not be the main focus at that point, a parachute might be more desirable at that moment. However, trying to avoid a class 6, it would be nice to have good oars.

I've not seen many non-wood oars at the long lengths. Probably something about the strength of the wooden shaft when they are abused.

But, yes, big oars are pretty common. On place that probably has them is Alder Creek Kayak supply, here in Oregon.

Later,

johnbo

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 8' oars?

John, the Colorado River watershed is unique in that it uses a 1 to 10 scale. A class 10 is somewhat comparable to a 5 elsewhere.

 

[johnbo]

Re: 8' oars?

Ahh, that makes more sense. I've not done the Colorado, would like to some day. My 5+ was on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon, during flood stage........ Exciting doesn't begin to describe it.

Later,

johnbo

 

[River - Runner]

Re: 8' oars?

1lbtest..... My boat may be a similar style to yours and is a 14 footer, I bought the boat new. 7' full size wooden oars came with it. I think the boat company supplied them (AlumaCraft), 39 years ago. The boat has a 4 1/2' beam and two pairs of oarlocks. I never considered any other type of oar could be better, because they work great and can take abuse. They seem light, so I weighed one oar, it is about 3 or 3 1/2 lbs. With the size a little effort gives a lot of push. They're comfortable to use, they float and are used as a backup push pole.

I'm old school and will use oars often in the skinny waters of the upper Mississippi river basin.