WFS 185 – How to Choose Drift Boat Oars with Derek Young (Drift Boat Series Ep. 5)

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/185

Derek Young from Sawyer Paddles and Oars describes the steps to choosing drift boat oars with a comparison between natural and composite. Derek describes the square top oar vs the smoker bandit and why you would go with either of these.

Lots of analogies to help clarify today including the golf analogy and the fly rod analogy.  We also dig into the history of Sawyer oars and how it all started in 1967 with a hardcore boater, Ralph Sawyer in Michigan, who was a racing champion.

Show Notes for the Drift Boat Oars Podcast

– April Volkey was on the podcast in episode 30 and talked about the 10-year mark in guiding and how it allowed her to move onto her next part of her journey.  

– We talked about the square top oar and the history of it.  It is counterbalanced to allow for much less wear and tear on your arms.

– The Stream Trek raft is Derek’s Current boat of choice.

– The pro tip is a nice bonus that helps protect the oar blade over time.

– The two-thirds rule will help you determine the length of oars to use.  This is summarized by 1/3 of the length of oar from the oar lock in and 2/3rds length from the oar lock out.   Here’s a breakdown on oar length for a raft:

– Shop local is a great feature to help you find a dealer for Sawyer Oar products.

– Willis Boats was a big part of the start of Sawyer Oars in southern Oregon back in the day.

– Roger Fletcher was on the podcast and take about the history of drift boats.

– Cataract oars is another company I have used in the past who produce a synthetic blade.

– The cobra oars locks are killer and are tunable so you can perfectly adjust them to your needs.

– Paul Clark on the standup paddle boards is a leader in that space.

Derek Young from Sawyer Paddle and Oars share the steps to choosing your next set up drift boat oars.  We find out the formula for choosing the right oar based on your size, your river, and your variables.

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/185