Good post Ryan.

I would add to have the spare oar put together and accessable for the toughest sections of whitewater. I snapped the right oar of our raft in half when making a hard manuver at the top of the challenging Powerhouse Rapids on the upper Clackamas, a few years ago during sping runoff, and we couldn't get to the 2 piece spare strapped under the frame. Luckily we bounced to the left when we unavoidably hit the logjam at the lower end!

Another good reason the have a spare handy is to splash doughballs, crackers, and low-holing corkers; without having to take out one of the 2 in use.