From what I understand oar length should be the distance between my oar locks, divided by two, times three. Does the length of the oar for that formula include the blades ,or just the shaft length without the blades? THX

Blades too

If your talking standard-sized 16 ft drift boats, 9 ft. oars are a good baseline and you can adjust from there.

Talk to the boat builder and see what they suggest, my 17x60 willie called for 10', they said no, no. 9'4, if you can have them cut down, 9'6 if standard. If you have wide shoulders, shorter, narrow shoulders longer.

Add,
You may want to specify what the craft is... in this situation a 12' toon

I would run 8.5'-9'er

Worst thing is have wide shoulders and your oars 4" apart, push them out and to much paddle in the water. Side height, seat height, width of shoulders all change oar length. Your most powerful stroke position is with you hands spread the same as the width of your arm pits. Most natural position for comfort and power. Formulas will get you close, test driving will get you spot on

Going through this right now. Bought a 16x54 Willie with two other buddies and all of us are different sizes and widths. Its been making oar adjustments extremely difficult. Anyone have suggestions for this kind of situation?

Cozmo...I'd stay with 9'ers....adjust from there.Good luck,

SZ

Thanks for the help. I'll try my 8'6" and see how that works. Borrow a set of 9' , and go from there. If anyone has a 8 1/2' to 9 ' oar I could use as a spare, I'd like to buy one. Again, thanks again for the help. Add

Each of you buy your own set.

I've got a 16ft boat, in tight narrow rivers like the Duc , I use 8.6s and most of the time 9ft , the 9s are perfect most of the time... My first oars were 9.6 and seemed long. I have big shoulders so the 9ft works for me..