Hi there, I am new to this forum. I have a 12ft aluminum rowboat that I just bought oars for. The wood oars the guy supplied me with are far too small for the boat (and he menitoned that..). I picked up some new longer wooden oars ( the length based on the calculations I've found on the net). I now need a set of oar locks.
My old set of wood oars had this rubber sleeve-like thing on them. That rubber sleeve thing would then stop it from going beyond the oar lock. I am wondering what the best type to get for my oars? I've seen three kinds out there. There is one type that has a pin that goes through the oar which attaches directly to the oar lock. There is another type that that has a clamp that goes around the oar. Finally there is the kind that I have on my old oars that have a sleeve around it that keeps it in place. Is there one that is better than the others?
A 12' aluminum boat isn't going to row real well no matter what. Its stern is too broad and will drag, making rowing kind of a chore. You can still have a good time, if you're not planning on going very far. That said, the kind of oarlock isn't critical. An oarlock that does not pin or grip the oar is preferred by enthusiasts, but takes a bit more skill to use, skill easily gained with a little practice. This kind of oar can be "feathered", i.e. rotated 90 degrees when out of the water, to make it easier to row into a headwind. For your boat and mild conditions and distances, however, the pinned or clamped oarlocks would be OK.
