Just purchased a new Drift Boat and need to get some oars. I would like to get a set of Cataract oars. Any opinions on these oars(or others)? I saw on their web site they make a SGG and SGX version and would like to hear some opinions on the two different blades, the Cataract original and the Magnum. This is my second boat, had a pair of counter balanced Sawyers before.

I've got a set of cataracts with magnum blades for my Fishrite. I like the blades but have never rowed the original blades so I don't know how they compare.

Get the cataracs, they are very light and strong. If you have a 54" bottom on your boat get the 9'6" oars. I have magnum blades on mine. The only problem Ive found with them is sometimes when running fast hard water the current grabs them and its hard to pull them out of the water. Ive used the sawyer wood replacment blades before, I like them better than the magnums.

Hi Kev, I use a pair of cataracts with the original [standard] blade width. I am rowing a 11'lavro and the the standards work just fine. Since you are rowing a larger boat, you might want to try out the magnums before deciding. I have seen several 14 and 16 footers with the "standards" doing just fine. As advised to me on this board some time ago I went with the standards because with with the smaller boat I would often be floating "skinny" water and the narrow blade will [does] perform better in lower water, and also performs admiraly in bigger water. Either way you will be happy with the cataracts...oh, and if you have some extra cash, just buy a set of each, they are inter changable. Have fun out there. Sebastian.

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What's the size difference between the Magnum and the Standard blades? I know they have a different shape, but are they the same width, length? Thanks for the feedback.

By the way, the boat in question is a Willie's 16' x 54" drift boat, can't wait to get it on the water!

Hi Kev, Sebastian here. Check out Lavro's web sight at http://www.lavroboats.com/ they have a side by side comparison of the cataract's standard and magnum blade widths. Hope this is helpful. Sebastian out.

[This message has been edited by sebastian (edited 11-23-1999).] Just tried to access lavro from this message and it did not work. Typed this address in the address bar above and it worked. Go figure. Sebastian.

[This message has been edited by sebastian (edited 11-23-1999).]