[cupido76]

Which of course brings into question the whole concept of adding weight to the end of an oar. We are at 60 posts and no one has explained why.

There are a lot of reasons why but if you're not sold I won't try to sell you.

I've taken an oar to the face due to lazy downstream oar management but I doubt a counterbalance would alter the effect of a stiff jab like that.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Yeah I figured it would hurt to get hit with a heavy stick. It's just alot bigger now is all. No biggie iam sure it'll be fine and accomplishes what my 1000k square tops do for ten bucks. My bad!! Iam just trolling cause iam bored sorry!!

 

[Susswein]

How do you remove the foam plug from cataract shafts?

 

[cupido76]

I'd also like to know how to remove the cork or plastic plus from a carlisle oar, if anyone knows?

 

[Pinchecharlie]

The cool grip manufacturer guy has a video on it. Basically a screw in a broom stick(or?) . Stick it in turn in screw and pull out. Seems like it could go bad but he just pulls it right out. He has video of different oars too.

 

[IDriverRunner]

How do you remove the foam plug from cataract shafts?

I found a way to get my plugs out in a very simple manner, and took just a few seconds per plug.. I have a bunch of 24" insulation support wires already on hand because they come in handy all the time.
I just bent the tip of one.

My foam plugs were just beyond the oar blade so I didn't have to reach in too far.

Then I just push the insulation support into the foam with one hand, and push down from the oar blade button hole on the shaft. A little wiggle, and then gently pull the insulation wire with the foam plug out of the shaft.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Nice!!

 

[cupido76]

The cool grip manufacturer guy has a video on it. Basically a screw in a broom stick(or?) . Stick it in turn in screw and pull out. Seems like it could go bad but he just pulls it right out. He has video of different oars too.

Do you have a link you can share? My googling isn't finding it.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

 

[cupido76]

^^^ thanks for that.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Gotta eat my delicious humble pie! I was talking shite and offended at least one of you and the river gods. I popped my down stream oar at the entrance to the crux rapid on my Saturday run and had a real un fun ride through the rapid. I had trouble all day cause iam scrawny and weak and I took off my counter weights and I kept letting the oars dive to deep. Operator error for sure and inexperience and lack of fitness and heavy ass oars and delicious humble pie yum!! Oh great and forgiving river gods forgive my jackassness and allow me safe passage...

 

[MT4Runner]

mind the downstream oar!!

Gallatin?

 

[Pinchecharlie]

No kitchen sink lol

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Gallatins at 1185 ! Bear trap 1800 Saturday. Gonna be early I think?

 

[MT4Runner]

MF Flathead hit 10,800 yesterday. Boom!

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Juicy or washed out? That's alot of water

 

[MT4Runner]

Next to super low crystal clear flows, it's just about my favorite flow. Super juicy. Big hole in Jaws, and ginormous wavetrains everywhere.
Kind of like the Gally at 5k-6k.

At high (near peak) 16k-20k flows, it's pretty much a blown out freight train ride.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Sweet!! Giver the onion!!

 

[kayakingphotog]

(continuing off of my first post in this thread: DIY oar counterbalancing)

The noodles were delivered today!
With the foam plug removed, 2lbs of scuba weights slid down to the handle, I cut to fit and slid in the sections of the noodles.

View attachment 65321

The noodles weren't as tight as fit as the original foam plug, so I put the foam plug back in the oar shaft as well to help keep it was water tight as an original oar.

View attachment 65322

Finally, I capped it off with the oar blade. There is zero movement of the weights inside the shaft. I managed to keep the look of an OEM oar, but added weight to the handle areas at a fraction of the cost of replacement handles or external weights. I am very pleased with the outcome of this DIY project.

Hey IdriveRunner. I just removed the foam plug from one of my new 8.5 Cataract Oars and am planning on following your DIY counterbalance idea. Did you find that 2lbs was sufficient for each oar? The 8.5' Catatract Oars could not be purchased w/counterbances so am super stoked to try this.

 

[IDriverRunner]

Hey IdriveRunner. I just removed the foam plug from one of my new 8.5 Cataract Oars and am planning on following your DIY counterbalance idea. Did you find that 2lbs was sufficient for each oar? The 8.5' Catatract Oars could not be purchased w/counterbances so am super stoked to try his.

To be honest I have not had a chance to use them in the water yet. 2lbs does seem sufficient from the time I spent swinging them around in my garage though. You can always start with 2lbs and add another bag if it's not enough.