Anybody know where I can get some UHMW oar lock blocks or at least some raw pieces of UHMW locally? I'm pretty sure my blocks are original from 1987. The wood looks pretty tired and I'm always having to put shrimp oil on my oar locks cause they're noisy. My current oar lock blocks are made of wood (maybe oak) with some kind of plastic bushing for the oar locks.

I recently installed some Sawyer Cobra oar locks and would like to spruce up the blocks now. my rowers bench is not movable. I can only move the passenger bench. That being said, I really only need one oar lock position. However, it would be nice to have a few oar lock positions to play around with. I'd just have to drill a few new holes in the gunnles. I have ideas on how to fab up rails to make my rowers bench movable anyway in case I feel like a project.

Thanks for any info.

How do you like the cobra locks? Got a set as a backup. Never tried em.

love em so far.

Raw UHMW locally:
Tap Plastic
710 9th Ave N Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 389-5900

This is where I got mine and they are right in your neck of the woods (just south of ballard bridge on the canal.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=978&step=2&top_cat=181

If you wanted to renew the oak blocks, here are the bushings....
http://www.willieboats.com/store1/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=26
You'll want to drill the bores (in the oak) a little undersize (ask at Willie what dia) and press the bushings in.

If you go that route, might want to have some "ClackaWillie" labels made up.

I also went to TAP. That stuff is easy to work with.

Thanks guys. it's my understanding that if I go with UHMW for the blocks I won't need bushings since UHMW is essentially bushing material?

Correct.

Think about the angle before you drill.
Sometimes parrallel with the side of the boat splays the oarlocks out too far.
Might want to practice (test) on some wood.

Good plan DD. Measure Twice, cut once.

Steeiedrew, I have a piece 12" x 6" x 1-1/2" if this is big enough let me know, its at work in ballard on 14th ave, sure we could work something out? Doug

that may work out perfect to make a couple blocks. Let me measure my current blocks today and I'll let you know.

Thank you,

Drew

Steeliedrew, Don't know if you had a chance to measure your blocks? If you want this piece let me know, I'm not going to ask anything for it, Doug

I'll take it. PM sent.