Raft Oars
The oars and rafting paddles in this section from Sawyer, Caviness, and Carlisle are mainly for whitewater river use and fly fishing. For flatwater rowing you can utilize less expensive oars, often available through fly fishing stores or even some big-box outlets. Cobra Oar Locks, OarRights, AIRE's Bladerites, Oar Sleeves, and spare blades are also in this area of our site. This section was updated March, 2013
We carry Sawyer fiberglass oar shafts and mostly Sawyer blades, with a few 8" blades from Carlisle. Sawyer's fiberglass Polecat shafts are a bit more money than Carlisle equivalents, but are a lifetime investment you will never need to replace. Carlisle shafts do not have the same strength, and they have exhibited some issues with the exterior polyethylene sheathing of late. More about that down below.
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AIRE Bronze Oar Lock
Product ID: oar locks
AIRE Silicon Bronze Oarlocks are priced PER PAIR and come with bushings and keeper...
AIRE Oar Rights
Product ID: oar right
OarRights and Blade Rights are $35 each for both varieties.
The original...
Carlisle 8" Outfitter Oar Blade
Product ID: carlisle 8in
We have phased out the Carlisle blades - please see the sawyer Duramax
Sawyer 10' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 10ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 7-1/2' (90"), and not ten feet. It is ten...
Sawyer 10' Polecat Fiberglass Two-Piece Oar Shaft
Product ID: polecat 10-2
Please note that the actual length of this shaft assembled is 7-1/2' (90"), and not ten feet....
Sawyer 7' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 7ft
Special Order Only - See text. Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 4-1/2'...
Sawyer 7-1/2' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 75ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 5' (60"), and not seven and a half feet....
Sawyer 8' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 8ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 5-1/2' (66"), and not eight feet. It is 8...
Sawyer 8-1/2' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 85ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 6' (72"), and not eight and a half feet....
Sawyer 9' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 9ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 6-1/2' (78"), and not nine feet. It is 9...
Sawyer 9-1/2' Polecat Fiberglass Oar Shaft, single piece
Product ID: polecat 95ft
Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 7' (84"), and not nine and a half feet. It...
Sawyer 9-1/2' Polecat Fiberglass Two-Piece Oar Shaft
Product ID: polecat 95-2
Special order - see below. Please note that the actual length of this shaft is 7' (84"), and...
Sawyer Cobra Heavy Duty Oarlocks
Product ID: cobraoarlock
$64 Each
Cobras are arguably the strongest oarlock made, though we have to say it is...
Sawyer Dynelite Fiberglass Whitewater Oar Blade
Product ID: dynaliteblad
The Dynelite blade from Sawyer is an alternative to the heavier Duramax & Carlisle blades....
Sawyer Slit Oar Sleeve for 1-7/8"
Product ID: slitoarsleev
Slit Oar Sleeves for one-piece Sawyer Polecat shafts are $27 each. Unless you want to remove...
Sawyer Two-Piece Polecat Oar Shaft Option
Product ID: polecat2optn
For two-piece Sawyer Polecat breakdown shafts in the 8' through 9' sizes, add $45 per oar....
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About a dozen years back when Carlisle was bought by Johnson Outdoors, the new owners immediately started messing with the plastic composition in the oar (and guide paddle) blades. Ever since there have been intermittent problems with these blades snapping at the drop of a hat. In more recent times Carlisle's shafts have had issues with the outside plastic sheath expanding in the heat at a much higher rate than the aluminum underneath. This always happened to some degree even before the Johnson days, and can be remedied with a little pocket knife trimming, but lately the trouble has become so severe that the exterior plastic is coming completely loose. We are reluctant to continue carrying products that make our customers unhappy. Sawyer's Polecat and Duramax blade line seems to represent the best value by far, so it makes more sense to concentrate on those. We will continue to carry Carlisle's 8" blades for those who want one this wide, since Sawyer doesn't make an equivalent, but we will not take any returns on Carlisle's.