Free or oar rights for rowing?

[ericnourse]

Originally Posted by ericnourse

Dave, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit we paddled together the other day. Oar locks? You come across ass such a bad ass. Ditch the training wheels. Please tell me you don't use tethers. I don't dare throw my secrets out to the public, but since we are now friends, throw me a call. Good times on the creek the other day. Took the Sotar IK down the next day. Riot!

E-

I meant oar rights.

E-

[TakemetotheRiver]

Originally Posted by ericnourse

Please tell me you don't use tethers.
E-

Tethers are not the same as Oar Rights. I learned the hard way. I didn't put tethers on through Brown's Park, figuring I'd put them on when I got to Lodore, long story short, I grabbed a sand bar with the down stream oar, it popped and was gone in seconds- never to be seen again.

Tethers are more like insurance than training wheels.

[rwhyman]

Well, thanks to all the comments on this thread, I guess I'm not worthy to post on here anymore.

In the few years that I've been boating, I've run the Grand, a couple of Middle Fork trips at 5 to 6 ft., the Main Salmon, Westwater a few times, the Gorge a few times plus Lodore, Yampa at 11K and a bunch of other stuff. All with "training wheels". And yes, I've tried running without them.

Maybe some day I'll grow up, but I've always said, "If it works, don't fix it"

And while I won't say it, I'm still a member of one of the 3 types of rafters.

[Riparian]

Roger, I feel you, man! I use oar rights and tethers, and I like 'em both. Perhaps most telling, I no longer haul my boat to the river in a horse-drawn cart. I use one of them new-fangled auto-mo-biles. Pussy city, I know. I'm pretty sure the decline into wimpdom started when I installed indoor plumbing and electricity in my little mountain shack.

Clearly I am not worthy.

[yarmonymatoid]

I hear ya fella's, I'm taking mine off so I can be cool again! (I am curious to see if it makes a big difference in your "control") I went without for about 7 years in really big and really small water and I just don't remember it being that different. I guess I'll have to carry an extra set of oars with rights for my wife when she's behind them, so I'm not considered a pussy.

[Kendo]

I am still new to rafting(3 years), but have kayaked for 16 years, i currently use oar lock uprights, I am wondering if you loose the feel and ability to feather - like in a kayak when you always keep a paddle in the water for stablity and really direction adjustments.(angle the blade). is this what I am missing by using the locks?

I only raft class-3 and below

I am very interested in loosing the locks if it means I gain a little more in feel and control!

Thanks for this post it was informative!

[Jack Bombardier]

All of you "Oar Rights are training wheels" types out there really make my eyes roll. MAYBE on multi-day trips through flat water I can see the need for feathering (as one poster noted the boat itself has a far larger profile than the blades while they are in the air), but in big water when you need to bust some moves Oar Rights rock. Two problems they prevent - one is when you REALLY need to get some bite to move your boat, and find that your blade has gotten a little sideways, and your boat doesn't move as much as you expected. The second problem is when you need to get your oar OUT of the water, and its gotten a little sideways and you can't lift it. In addition to being dangerous its a lot of wear and tear on your shoulders and elbows.

I've got Oar Rights on both of my boats, but also work part-time for a local whitewater company that doesn't use them on theirs, and I HATE it. Oar Rights are the best nine bucks you can spend on your rig.

[LSB]

Originally Posted by Jack Bombardier

Oar Rights are the best nine bucks you can spend on your rig.

Nope... a dozen Highlifes is

[yarmonymatoid]

Originally Posted by LSB

Nope... a dozen Highlifes is

Agreed... got to have the Champagne!

[carvedog]

Good God. I was going to stay out of this but JB you been hitting the long bong or something, cuz you are presenting as fact that which is merely your opinion. Dangerous to run without oar rights?? Bwaaaaaaaaa.
Do you own stock in an oar right company?

Originally Posted by Jack Bombardier

All of you "Oar Rights are training wheels"..........blah, blah, blah....................blah..............blah.... ........ but in big water when you need to bust some moves Oar Rights rock. Two problems they prevent - one is when you REALLY need to get some bite to move your boat, and find that your blade has gotten a little sideways, and your boat doesn't move as much as you expected.

Good boatmen don't "find" that their blade has gotten a little sideways anymore than a kayaker rolling up "finds" their blade the wrong angle. Either you feel it or you don't. A kayaker looks for current and sculls around to find it. A good rafter does too.

Originally Posted by Jack Bombardier

The second problem is when you need to get your oar OUT of the water, and its gotten a little sideways and you can't lift it. In addition to being dangerous its a lot of wear and tear on your shoulders and elbows.

===== you're doing it wrong.


Your oar has "gotten" a little sideways??? Try holding on to your oars. It really isn't that hard. If you like to get drunk and slather yourself with sunscreen and be able to just grab and yank at an oar I guess it might be better with the rights, but I can't think of too many other situations.

Originally Posted by Jack Bombardier

I've got Oar Rights on both of my boats, but also work part-time for a local whitewater company that doesn't use them on theirs, and I HATE it. Oar Rights are the best nine bucks you can spend on your rig.

I used to guide for a local whitewater company and they had a mix. Everyone once in a while I got stuck with oar rights and I HATED it.

Save the nine bucks and go buy some Guinness. It will really help improve your boating. And Guinness makes an easy transition from coffee to beer when you are on the river.