Cobra Oar Locks & Undercut Rocks | Gear Garage Live Show

This podcast is the audio version of the Gear Garage live show, where Zach covers whitewater rafting, river safety, gear, and answers viewer questions. In this episode, Zach discusses the dangers of undercut rocks and addresses a question about a 14-foot Star raft and calculating oar length.

Episode Summary

Zach begins the show by highlighting that this episode will focus on answering user questions and revisiting a video from Bedrock on the Grand Canyon. The main technical segment covers a question regarding undercut rocks and what happens when a swimmer encounters them. He notes that hazards like nasty ledge holes, weirs, trees, and sieves are also major concerns. To look at specific statistics, Zach pulls up the American Whitewater accident database to review trends regarding fatalities, highlighting that "flush drowning" represents about 19% of recorded fatalities.

The second user question comes from a viewer who purchased a 14-foot PVC Star raft from NRS for $600 and wants to know if they wasted their money, alongside asking for the best oar length for a 66-inch wide boat. Zach reassures the viewer that $600 is an incredible price for a raft, making it a very smart financial choice even though PVC boats might not have the absolute best performance or last forever. Regarding oar length, Zach reiterates his standard formula: measure the exact distance between the oar locks and multiply by 1.63. Boaters can then add or subtract half a foot depending on personal preferences like tube size, height, or shoulder width.

Topics and links that Zach talked about in this episode

• Safety Database: Reviewing river accident data via the American Whitewater Accident Database.
• Raft Maintenance: Assessing the value and lifespan of PVC Star rafts sold by NRS.
• Gear Customization: Calculating optimal oar lengths based on oar lock width.

Key Questions and Discussion Points

• Topic: Undercut Rocks. What exactly happens when a person swims into an undercut rock, and can they get pinned like a boat?
• Topic: Boat Value. Is buying a $600 PVC Star raft directly from NRS a waste of money?
• Topic: Sizing Math. Does the overall width of a raft dictate your oar length, or does it strictly depend on the distance between the oar locks?

Connect with Zach

• Instagram
• YouTube

Zach Collier is the owner of Northwest Rafting Company and an International Rafting Federation Rafting Instructor. He has decades of river guiding and expedition experience across the American West and internationally, specializing in technical rowing and professional guide training.