I just purchased my first drift boat. It came with some wood oars, but let me tell ya these things must be 15 pounds each! I want something lighter and better looking. I have been looking at Cataracts, but they aint too cheap. Sawyers look really nice and are pretty light, and if I want lighter I can go with the Sawyer lights. My question is what is the weight difference between the lights and the Cataracts? How much of a price difference? What about performance? Were might be the best place to purchase my boat stuff? another thing is that the top of the seats are rotted, not the seat them selves but the wood underneath. We are going to put new wood on them but what about just some padded cusions made for boats? any tips will be greatful.

thanks,
Andy http://The_Steelhead_Solution.homestead.com

I would go with the Cataract oars. I have a set for my boat and love them. They will withstand just about anything and as a rookie rower myself have put them through hell. I'm not sure about weight between them but the Cataracts are tough and I'd rather have a few extra pounds than a broken oar at the wrong time. Most places I've seen sell them wraped for about 150 each. Be sure to look at the wraps as those done for rafts won't work well in a drift boat (the rope is in the wrong place). Be sure to get a set of oar rights to keep your blades in the correct position so that your boat doesn't sway all over. Don't have any idea on the seats, but plastic doesn't rot. Something to remember when your looking at oar handles as well.

The type of rowing you do has a lot to do with which type of oar you need. Do you spend a lot of time pulling plugs?? I like the Sawyer counter balenced oars. Heavy, but not when you are slowly working down a run. They seem to take some of the effort out of it. I also do not like oar rights. This is the reason. Often, its better to grab half a blade or "feather the oars" The problem with oar rights is that you can only grab the whole blade. People who have a lot of time on the sticks know what I am talking about here. Oar rights are cool in heavy white water, but pretty much suck other than that. Just an opinion from a guy who has been in the rowing seat for 20 years

I have a pair of Sawyer lights and really like them a good all around oar. I have oar tip covers to keep the ends from wearing out and rotting the oar. Also I agree with the guy befor don't get the oar locks. I got a pair and took them off befor my first drift with them was over.
I was just at Sportco in Fife yesterday and they hade both oars there and the price was at least 30 to 40 dollars cheaper than i've seen anywhere else they might be a place to check out

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I have a question for B-run and ronbob.
If you don't use oar rites, how do you keep the boat from swinging back and forth when you are anchored in some current, backing eggs or lures down into a hole? I saw a tip on this board last fall that said if you leave the oars in the water with the blades vertical you won't swing as much. It works. So what do you do if you only have a ring as an oar stop?

Hey Andy I row a 12' cataraft and use carlisle's they less then either of the other 2 mentioned ,there are several web sites dealing with white water equipment oars ,seats etc.The blades are replaceable I recomend going with the outfitter blade it a little heavier but tough as nails I'm guessing cost is going to be around 80 to 90 bucks each depending on lenght,as far as the oar rights I,ve used them they are great in white water but for just fishing ? I don't use them on this boat....Good Luck

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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!

Go with the Cataracts, I think they are lighter and are definetly much stronger. I also use the oar rights, however, I cut the last 1" to 1.5" off the end for the same reason Ron Bob and B-Run gave. Although, when I anchor I still have the use of the oar rights to keep me from swaying back and forth. How you set your boat up is personal choice, trial and error sometimes is the best method.

Good Luck,

Kev

If you mount the oar rites at the end of the wraps near the handle ends you can still use them to keep the boat straight while on the pick,and still have the freedom to feather the oars while rowing,because they will remain far enough away from the oar lock to keep from interfering.If you cut back the tips of the oar rites an inch or so you will be able to get back on the sticks quicker after you pull the pick.Less interferance.A little trick the Really Big One showed me

check out Lavro Flex-Lite oars. I believe they are on their web site. I use them and love 'em. they use cataract blades but Lavro makes the oar. One big advantage is that you can have them wrapped exactly how you want so they fit your boat, just measure between oar locks. they are a little expensive but they're worth it I think