Summerrun,

I sold my used WM Grizzly to a friend this winter, as I ran into a chance to pick up a NIB Kodiak for a steep discount from a guy who bought out stock from a retailer who was discontinuing them in Tenn. (TMI)

Anyway, you can get upgraded oars, Carlisle I think. I've never had any problems, but I haven't used it on the Sol Duc or Calawah. I've been rowing an Achilles LT2 since 1985 with no problems, and it's oars are less skookum than WM's. I've been down nearly every steelhead river in WA with them, so if you have any doubts, let's talk. I've been through boulder gardens on the Quinault, Queets, Clearwater, Hoh, Grand Ronde, etc., so I have high confidence that they'll take on water that I'm shy of. I'm thinking of a multi-day on the Deschutes that I haven't done in 20+ years.

The guy I sold my Grizzly to promptly broke an oar blade, but this guy is hellish hard on all gear, so I don't know if it was just one of those things that could happen to anyone, or if it was inevitable for him.

Sg