wooden oars

[tidclacy]

Any suggestions on how to protect the tips on my wooden oars?

 

[Rappey]

Strips of copper nailed over the tips used to be common.

 

[Romeo]

have a boat hook pole for shoving off from the harbour wall or the bottom.... rather than using the tips of your oars, which is rather tempting. And keep the blades out the sun and weather. Do all that, and your blades will not need any protection from splitting.

 

[GetOffMyLawn]

I would agree with Romeo. As well, periodic applications of linseed oil (instead of paint) does wonders to stop the wood from drying out and splitting. Also easier to maintain and no unsightly paint chips.

 

[Rappey]

Why add a boat hook to what you already have to carry, just use the other end of your oar?

 

[Poignard]

Any suggestions on how to protect the tips on my wooden oars?

As Rappey says, copper strips is the traditional way.

Another way would be to warm the ends of the blades (after scraping off any old varnish) and impregnate with unthickened epoxy. Then sheath the ends with a strip of glass cloth soaked in epoxy.

 

[geem]

We have traditional 7ft wooden oars for our dinghy. I wrapped 2” glass cloth and epoxy around the tips and painted the oars. It works well.

 

[tidclacy]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[Romeo]

Why add a boat hook to what you already have to carry, just use the other end of your oar?

......because you don't want grit, water, weed and splinters etc on your handles?

 

[vic008]

FWIW,here in NZ, the oar maker has decided not to anymore, so you have to buy plastic (they are good so far)

 

[Praxinoscope]

Not a regular or pretty way of achieving this but I made a 'witches brew' of epoxy resin with carborundum grit mixed into it, coated the first inch of the oars 10 years ago, the 'brew' still protects the tips of the oar despite many scrapes and shoves from a concrete jetty.

 

[tidclacy]

Going for copper strip, will send a picture when completed. Traditional Clinker sailing dinghy (West Wight Scow) and collars oars.

 

[Poignard]

Not a regular or pretty way of achieving this but I made a 'witches brew' of epoxy resin with carborundum grit mixed into it, coated the first inch of the oars 10 years ago, the 'brew' still protects the tips of the oar despite many scrapes and shoves from a concrete jetty.

I hope they never come into contact with my topsides, they're scratched enough as it is!

 

[tidclacy]

 

[tidclacy]

as promised

 

[Paulg25]

Nice job.

Bet your good at wrapping presents.

 

[Romeo]

as promised

Is that copper?

 

[tidclacy]

yes cheap from E-bay