I have read more than once here how people store the spare oar in their driftboats. It takes up space and is in the way. I am setting up a boat I am just finishing and came up with this solution. In archery take down two piece long bows and recurves are quite the rage. They are much easier to fly with and travel in general. So I just applied this concept to an oar. It will work with a composite or a wood oar. First saw the Oar in two. Then take two pipe ends one with male threads and the other with female threads. Each one about 4" long and the same ID as the OD of your oar or close. Epoxy one pipe end on each end of your oar. Your Oar now will screw together when you need to use it but you can store it in two halves. Make sure you clean and sand the inside of the pipe and the outside of the oar. and seal the ends of the oar with epoxy as well. If using a composite shaft you will also need to fill the composite shaft with wood or another material the length of the pipe collar that you use. I made my own oars so I tested the breaking strength of the new set up and the wood failed on the oar shaft away from the collar so it is plenty strong. Takes about 30 minutes.

or you can just buy a 2 piece oar, they do sell them.

I have Cataract Breakdown oars for my pontoon boats. They're great.

Please be aware that you never break an oar in a good place on the river. You break it in a nasty place that you need to get the spare out in a hurry or die. Don't ask me how I know.

My one piece spare is always under my rowing seat and I am sure I could have it ready by only missing a stroke or two. But that might not be enough time if I am spinning in circles in a bad piece of water.

Also, I know that an oar will swell up and not fit into the aluminum coupler you are making so alittle more time in shaving down the oar to fit. I know that too!!!! Don't ask me how I know that!!!

Just some food for thought.

fp

i have to ask, how do you know that??

Go one piece but instead of full length have it a little bit shorter it stores is easier and can be put into action faster just my .02

We all carry a spare oar, but do we ever practice getting it in place quickly, before we really have to?

Yes, I have practiced placing a lost oar, and I can say this: I never, ever want to have to put together an oar when I'm in some stuff bad enough to have popped an oar in the first place. Give me one piece, put together, at easy reach. I don't care how much space it takes up, it's not worth mine or my passengers lives.

What are you guys doing that you need an oar so fast? I have rafted most of the class 4 and 5 water in the PNW over the past 30 years. In the early years we rented equipement and never carried a spare oar. We broke and oar one time on the Salmon and had to rig it back together. Then again we floated Tumwater in only life jackets at 5000CFS

It's all about your comfort level. If that works for you, cool. Doesn't work for me though. I've seen too many people get screwed up in what may be a class I or II boulder garden at low flows that can turn into a disaster if you don't have an oar handy.

I have a two piece spare oar but keep it assembled when on the river and angled under the rowers seat, over the stern, so it is ready to go. I did break an oar a few years ago on the upper Sauk and just like Kyle said, I was pullin hard to set up above a chute that dropped into one of those nasty log jams. Not a big deal with two oars, but thank god my spare was ready to go and in the oar locks with only a coupla missed strokes.

King: I've floated the main Salmon in my driftboat and was required to have a spare to use the permit. Didn't need it on that trip, but you are playing Russian Roulette if you don't have one. Salmon didn't have the nasty sweepers and log jams (at least that year) that we get over here either, and it was 90 degrees instead of 40 so a swim wasn't so bad.
Driftboats aren't as forgiving as rafts, which can bounce aimlessly off the rocks and still get through, so this probably helped you as well.

I hope the beginning DB owners on this board ignore your apparent (hopefully tongue in cheek ) lack of respect for safety.

Jam,

It's not lack of respec t at all it is just that times have changed. Back then no one thought anything of floating the wildest water around in a wooden drifter with a single pair of oars and no life jacket. I never knew anyone that died on the rivers either. We grew up on the river . It is only in the last 10 or 15 years that people have come to the conclusion that you had to have a welded aluminum boat to float anything safely and enough safety gear for an expedition in each boat. But then again most of the people floating now did not grow up on theses rivers. Take what you feel you need and more power to you. It's just not that hard or dangerous if you use your head.

Keeping things in perspective it's probably at least a million time more dangerous driving to the river. Yet I do not see people wearing nomex suits, helmuts driving trucks with full roll cages and 3 pt restraints. But if you forget your PFD or a 3rd oar you are reckless.

I'm definitely with Kyle on this spare oar discussion.

TheKing ... please see the thread entitled "Sol Duc Fatality"

TheKing, I can think of a lot of crazy stuff I used to do when I was younger. I used to build log rafts and paddle around in Hood Canal, dive 125" in a wet suit not paying attendtion to the tables, hop ammo trains on Bangor for a fun ride, and on and on. But now I know better.

Experience helps us get older. If we don't learn then we will grow no older and die. As Bob says, look at the Sol Duc fatality. One is too many lets not have anymore!

OK guys, ya got me convinced about carrying the spare oar...

Can't think of too many places on the Skagit where I might lose an oar, but I guess that's the reason to carry the spare in the first place...:-)

I have 9' ClackaCraft PowerStroke oars for the boat, which is a 13'. Maybe a bit more oar than needed, but there's lots of room in this river.

My question is that I have the old set of wood oars for this boat, and could carry one as a spare. They are, however, only 7 1/2' oars, so if I had to put it into use in an emergency, it would be 18" shorter than the other side.

Does this negate me fixing up one of them and carrying that oar as a spare? Does the spare have to be the same length as the main oars?

(Might be a dumb question to some, but keep in mind I'm a rowing rookie...and I still have a alotment of 5 "dumb" questions left.)

Mike

Mike, My suggestion is you probably just want to carry all same length in case you ever use it you're good to go in an emergency situation.
We need to start palnning our dates for marching down the upper Skagit soon!

Mike,
I think your 7.5 ft oar is fine for a spare (and a lot better than none!) on the Skagit, but I'd recommend you just try it after you finally float that thing. It will be a bit awkward to row but you won't be using it often.

I agree, the 7.5 will feel a bit funny, but you can stroke with it, that's all that counts. Take the time to try it out so you'll know how much adjustment you need to make with one arm. I've never had to use my spare, but just the thought of being is a driftboat with one oar gives me the willy's!

More than twice as many people died in falls last year in Wash. vs drowning death. make sure you wear your helmuts today

Bob

"TheKing ... please see the thread entitled "Sol Duc Fatality""

I read that. If he would have been wearing a wetsuit and PFD vs. waders he would have lived. I have never been in a boat on a river in waders , that is as foolish as it gets.

TheKing, it sounds like you've stumbled onto the wrong BB. This board is about fishing, the use of hard and soft boats and wearing waders. From your post's, I'm guessing you've never rowed a hard drift boat through a boulder garden.

Here's a link to a BB that sounds like a better fit for you, soft boats, wetsuits etc. Thanks!

http://p204.ezboard.com/fjswebfrm38

Kyle,

Nope I just think that safety needs to be kept in perspective. You newbies to the NW have everyone convinced it's the most dangerous thing going. You should try the wetsuit it fishes fine. No clothes , no rain gear no sinking if you have to swim. I mean since river saftey is paramount.

Hmmmm. Ok. I'm forty. I was born here. I'm done with this thread.

I have a 2 pc break down oar under the front seat. If I am ever worried about a drift I will assemble it before I leave. I don't think anyone really needs a break down spare. A full length spare if positioned in the boat right is not a big hassel.

I have had to use my spare a few times and I would get one the same length as your other oars so you won't have to have your arms too far apart when rowing!!

I use waders from a boat and most people I know that FISH do too because you're prone to get out on the beach and work a small stretch from the bank at times.

There is a difference between being on the river going down for the fun of it and being on the river for the purpose of fishing. While drifting a river and fishing you will purposely position the boat in areas that are somewhat perilous, in front of or slightly to the side of log jams, big boulders, and chutes, pulling hard on the oars to keep your position. If an oar snaps you will instantly start to spin and momentarily loose control because you're still pulling on the other oar through that stroke. This very situation demands a hightened sense of awareness and preparedness because 'Murphy' has been known to apply his principles in these very instances. Having backup gear is prudent. I've been fishing Alaska, Canada and Washington for 30 years. Backup resources and attention to detail are part of the reason I'm still around to partake in these discussions

Thanks for your advise, TC!