Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

oar dimensions

Gents, I completed my 16ft double ender in between deployments and am now at the end of another one and ready to head home. The next project on day on of my return is to start my oars. looking at 8'6" in length but trying to see if any of you guru's have the exact dimensions of the blades/width/thickness and diameters on a trusted and true oar. I have scoured the internet and the forums but with my limited access to the internet was hoping one of you had the dimensions of some you have built. Interested in smoky style that I will build out of standard lumber. any info will be a help, not looking for anything fancy, just something me and my sons can slap together in a couple weekends. Love the site, it is a breath of fresh air to get on and read about boats, the river and fishing while away. thanks

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on April 3, 2014 at 7:10pm

Garett,

I have a design I have made for my Oars. They are 8'-6" with a 24" blade,a and are shown in a detail drawing in a PDF file. I tried to upload it here but it didn't come up.

You can view the blank on my post "Dorf's Wooden Drift Boat". It's shown on page 19. If your interested I can e-mail it to you. Send me a PM if your interested.

phil w.

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Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on April 4, 2014 at 6:18am

Garett: R.D. Culler has a book-long out of print- as is he- on building oars. I have built 5 sets of oars from 7 1/2' to 8 using some of his basic dimentions Blades are 4-5"wide Shafts are 2" dia(rough) and worked down to about 1 1/2" by 1" where the blade is attached to the shaft. I used 9 mm merranti for blades and they have worked out well. If you look on page 67 of the photos section you will see some pictures of the oars as well as the Peapod built several years ago. Rick Newman was kind enough to post them for me. If you want to give me your mailing address I will copy the chapter on oarmaking and mail it to you.

Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 4, 2014 at 6:58am

Lawrence and Garrett; Amazon.com has both used and new copies of his book; Boats' Oars and Rowing for sale. I may have to buy one myself.

Garrett, by the way thanks for your service, hope you enjoy your new boat and time at home.

Rick Newman

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Permalink Reply by Rojo on April 4, 2014 at 9:03am

I'm a bad woodworker but a decent researcher. Check out this site: http://www.riverswest.org/uploads/1/6/4/3/16435358/pete_culler_oars...

Rojo

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Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on April 5, 2014 at 5:28am

Rojo: If you have all your thumbs and fingers you are not a bad woodworker. Thanks for your computer research skills. My computer skills are hopeless.

LEL

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 5, 2014 at 7:05am

Lawrence with your woodworking skills all is forgiven. If you get a chance take a look at the Peapod he made. I posted the pictures but Lawrence built the boat. Not only that he upgraded an inexpensive trailer, loaded up the boat and drove it to Montana to deliver it to his son! I won't give away his age but he is at least 20 years my senior!

A true craftsman to look up to in my opinion. By the way the drift boat he built a few years previously now resides near the Klickitat River where another son proudly rows it.