Was wondering what you guys think about oar rights on your driftboats. I'm considering putting some on mine, but don't really know what the minuses could be. The positives as I see them are:
1. Don't have to worry about whether your paddle is straight, therefore, will grab water every time you stroke.
2. Which leads to more time looking for fish and less time worried about navigation.
3. May make it easy enough for my wife to row... while I fish!

Let me know what you think.

Hey there AK

oar rights are nice.They keep your boat hangin striaght when anchored in strong current to.Also makes it easier for FISHINGALFORLIFE ,my wife, to row also.

All though they are considered training wheels through out the N.W. I bought a set last fall but haven't put them on yet.The benefit that I see is it will help keep the boat straight while on the anchor.I will put them on before the fall salmon run.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I use the oar rights too and I must say that I don't like them in the oar locks unless I am on anchor. I feel like I've got handcuffs on if I row with the oar rights in the oarlocks. Bad, bad, bad habit to row with oar rights in place as you lose the ability to feather the oar while navigating and backtrolling. An easy fix is to cut about 2 or 3" off of the end of them so they don't interfere with the oar locks while rowing.

Never had "Training Wheels" on my Drift boat,but I installed them on Oars for my Cataraft...I wonder why I waited so long.....Os

Chaos ,Panic, and Disorder.....my work here is done

Associate Vice Pesident of Custodial Services
Sauk River Steelhead Ranch
Redneck Pro staff

They are great like everyone says for keep your boat straight on anchor. I have mounted mine at the end of the raps. That way they aren't in the way until I want to use them.

Fishhead5

I suggest cutting them to half there size which will still work effectively to keep the blades straight. Then, the way I like to use them is to put the shortened lock part into the oar locks when I am running easy water or pulling plugs; and of course on anchor. If I want to 'feather' the blades, or when I need a stronger pulling ratio for hard whitewater manuvers I rotate the oars 180 degrees and the lock part won't go into the oar locks; and you have a little more power ratio by having more oar above the oar locks by about 2". This makes a suprizing difference for quick hard pulls. Easier on the back too.

Thanks guys. Lots of great insight. I think I'll probably go try it with the full oar right on Saturday. Then, I can decide whether I want to modify them before Sunday. It's been a long winter. Can't wait to get some relieve from this damn fish fever!

Thanks again.

I like 'em on my Cat as well, especially now that I get to pass on the tradition of rowing to my brother as RT and Superfly did to me.

Everyone that has them on driftboats has them cut that I've seen.

President of Sanitation Engineering
Sauk River Steelhead Ranch
Redneck Pro Staff

Cut em like saukit

Flip em like RT

Mount them on out the raps like fishhead,

Just have em, their too good not to have.

Just keep a simple 3/8th socket for very quick and easy adjustment.

As always, you guys, THEEEEEEEE PROSSSSSSSSS are too cool.

learn somethin new every time I log on.

Keep it up, maybe one day i will be able to type fast,you know, like TEN words a minute

I cant stand rowing with Oar Rites. Instead of Oar Rites I have some rubber bumpers that have a little [Bleeeeep!] that slips in the oar lock when anchored. I picked them up at Clackacraft in Clackamas.
I feel Oar Rites can cause more problems than they are worth. 1 problem I see is you cant rotate you oar blades, This really sucks when trying to fight wind with Catarac magnum blades. Another problem I see is you cant row as quiet with them.
Thats just my 2 cents.

As I've said before ... used properly, they're the best. Follow RT's advice or you can run a search for that topic and I've got instructions of what to do

I just put Oarrights on my 10 foot cataract oars. It took me a half a day on the water to get use to them but after that they were great. I like them for all the traits mentioned above and I also like the extra leverage I get when I am rowing. Somebody mentioned that they make rowing louder, I don't agree. I think my boat is quieter with them on.