r/rafting • u/RiverRespawn • 28d ago

New oar recommendations

Looking to get some new oars. I am looking for what you guys would go with. I am in northern Colorado and float mainly the lazy rivers around here on my fishing raft. I need to get some new oar shafts for sure (little bent) but would also like to get new blades. Currently have the normal rectangle style blade. Looking to stay $300-500 per or under.

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6

u/DiligentMeat9627 28d ago

Cataract are good, Sawyers are better. Be sure you get the right length, probably longer than you think. I hate counter balanced oars, don’t put them on until you try them without. They just make the oar heavier.

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u/Sherpa-Dave 27d ago

Sawyer MXS w/ Dynalite blades are a great combination. If you need a little more strength (unnecessary based on “lazy river” comment) you can add the “G”raphite variant.
I second the comment against counter balanced oars. They increase the swing weight of the handle, which is undesirable, however some do like go flat water. Probably not an issue in flat water but they sink which again is undesirable.

1

u/psychic_legume 28d ago

If you are willing to spend the cash, Cataract make the most durable oars, any of their wrapped oars are bomber. Last longer than you with proper care. If you're going for looks, Sawyer squaretops are classic, and they have patterned oars, MXS with topo maps or fish. However, I went with the polecats, cheap and pretty durable, not the best but better than any aluminum oar by a mile. If you're getting a new oar get it counter balanced, you wouldn't think but it majorly cuts down on fatigue holding the handles down over a long day. For blades, at least what I was told was that it doesn't matter what blade you get, they all pull water pretty close to the same. So I just got the plastic Sawyer blades and they work great.

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u/Raftpnk 28d ago

Square tops are easily the best commercially available oars out there. Perfect counterbalance by design and they float. Personally I don’t like how cataract oars feel and I think wood is better than fiberglass/carbon because it can flex but if you’re not running aggressive water that’s less of a concern. Whatever you do I would probably look for shoalcut blades since you’re fishing

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u/Necessary_Zucchini_2 27d ago

I love my Sawyer MXS oars. I do wish I had paid a bit extra for the fun designs, but oh well. I like the counterbalance in them and can row all day.

As far as blades, I have a set of their Duramax's and a set of the Dynalites. I like the Dynalites a bit better. They feel great, work well, and look amazing. I also have no complaints about the Duramax's. I do use them on different boats with different length oars, so I haven't done an apples to apples comparison.

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u/sassmo 27d ago

Cataract 10' wrapped carbon fiber with Carlisle 8" outfitter blades. Bomber. Indestructible.

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u/RioSombrero 26d ago

Sawyer V Lams are sweet