Will be piecing together a fishing raft setup over the next several months and wanted to get some thoughts on oars.

I’ve used both Cataract SSGs and Edge oars on drift boats (still have the Edge), with a slight preference of the Cataracts. Both had standard oar blades.

Looking at some of the Sawyer Dynalite Wooden oars with the Shoal Cut blades due to their “ease of use in shallower water.” I’ll be using this raft primarily in the summer for summer runs, but also early fall for Coho, and late spring for Springers. (Mostly low water conditions where I’d prefer not to abuse my drift boat.)

Does anyone have any experience using the shoal cut blades and would they be a solid choice for these bony river conditions?

I've been using the shoal cut ssg blades on my raft for 8 years or so. I like them a lot. They get a lot of abuse and still are holding up well. I do feel they have slightly more bite than traditional blade shape. I'd buy em again. I own my raft for the same reasons you listed. I wanted to fish upper wynoochee and upper Kalama without destroying a drift boat bottom. It's too bad fishing sucks anymore. The first time I fished the Kalama for summers I was blown away at seeing 50-100 chrome summers in the river a day. Now it seems your lucky if you happen upon one of those big pods.

If you are still actively fishing those areas, I’d bet we’ve ran into each other. Usually in a camo Hyde drift boat or a blue single person pontoon.

Appreciate the feedback, and glad to hear they’ll fit the need.

I do still fish those spots but definitely far less than I did prior to having our son. Your prob the guy I saw that was stashing a bike or boat at 7400 coming down from the beaver slide area? Couple years ago I feel like. I have a green aire super puma /w nrs frame. Generally fish with my wife or buddies.

seabeck,

I need your advice about the SSG oars. I broke my wood oars years ago and have since used ten foot very stiff oars for my Clackamax eighteen footer. Thinking about new oars that are light and flex. I'd appreciate comments from anyone with experience and opinons on lighter and flexible oars.

I love them. They’re on a 16’ slide rite I share with a buddy. Don’t use it much anymore, but I feel much more comfortable with them than the edge oars.

I don’t have much experience beyond those two oars types, but I definitely prefer the SSGs. Don’t feel nearly as brittle when I’m really laying into them.

+1 for SSG's

I have a Scadden Skykomish sunrise pontoon boat I've used in low water. I upgraded oars when I bought it at the show years ago. I think the oars are cateract with a streamlite/shoal type blade on them. That blade style works better in less water than any other because of it's shape.

I've got sgg's and run the Cataract Cutthroat which are shoalcut. Haven't rowed anything else except some square tops that were a little undersized. But I'm very satisfied with the Cutthroats.

I just picked up my new Pro Lock oars today. After a lot of research, I found out that they were the lightest and had the right amount of flex. I heard about them a long time ago, but couldn't find them on the internet. Less than four pounds per oar, including the paddles. Can't believe how light they are. Made in Klickitat. Expensive, but I needed to get lighter oars in my old age.

Just looked them up, and saw they still make the oar locks that I bought with my Willie Wide Guide back in late 80's from Rick Johnson at his Kalama shop. Well machined stainless. Also heard them called Power Pull oar locks from Bo's which were cast bronze/brass or Swivellock stainless from ? and looks like Edge carries StrongArm locks. The design is very efficient with zero slop. IMO the only way to go vs the old conventional oar lock.

RunnGun,

Thanks for the reply. I'm pretty much old school, so the new oarlock seems a little space age to me, but looking to install/try out when the weather warms up. Rick Johnson was one of my best friends when I lived in Kalama, Great guy, terrific guide.