Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Material Suggestions for Oarlock Bushings

Does anyone have experience with different materials to use as oarlock bushings?

My Ray's dory has a bushing within a block of wood for an oarlock. I don't know what material it is made from.

McMaster Carr has a wide selection of materials that could be used, including-

graphite

delrin

oil impregnated delrin

slippery polyurethane

and the list goes on.

While turning the bushings on a lathe takes little time and effort, the material cost varies from a couple dollars to up to $30. I could easily spend $100 to test materials, but don't want to.

If you have any experience with different materials, please let the forum and me know.

Thanks!

Ants

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on November 2, 2020 at 5:15pm

Ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic. It’s used by Hyde Drift Boats. McMaster sells it too.

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Permalink Reply by Ants Uiga on November 3, 2020 at 8:47am

David at Ray's Dories provided a similar response on the use of UHMW bushing. However, current practices include solid blocks (no bushings) of either hardwood or UHMW.

Ants

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Permalink Reply by Bennett Yarbrough on November 3, 2020 at 3:09pm

My bronze “flange bearings” from grainger work great. They’re oil impregnated and seem to hold up well. They’re really bushings but they list them as bearings. Cost I think 10 dollars or so for a set

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Permalink Reply by Shawn Baker on November 18, 2020 at 9:16am

I like bronze on bronze. You'll never replace them.

If you're fishing, UHMW is probably quieter.

But I'm a whitewater guy and not a fisherman, so I'll stick to metal. :)

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Permalink Reply by David Witton on November 4, 2020 at 6:20am

After 4 years, my blocks of UHMW are holding up well.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on November 4, 2020 at 10:27am

I have thirteen years of use on mine, which are UHMW.

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Permalink Reply by Ants Uiga on November 4, 2020 at 7:44pm

It seems UHMW gets good reviews.

If blocks were an option, that would be the obvious choice. I am modifying an outrigger setup where I am adding oars to a canoe. The rowing outrigger for the oarlocks is being used to increase height between seat and oarlock. Bushings are my easy option.

Using UHMW bushings seems to be a known solution. But for the price of materials and a little lathe time, other options can be tested.