Gear Garage Live Show | February 13th, 2024

This podcast is the audio version of the Gear Garage Live Show, where we answer submitted questions and talk all things whitewater.

Topics and links that Zach talked about this episode

• BoatSmith February 15-19, 2024
• Illyfest April 27 & 28, 2024
• Upper Wind Whitewater Festival March 23, 2024
• Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival May 18 & 19, 2024

Questions that Zach covered in the Q&A section of this episode

Topic: Oar Length

Zac, I have a bone to pick with you. For the record, I have submitted my question twice through the appropriate channels and there has been radio silence. I’m watching as I type, the YouTube episode titled, “Sawyer Paddles & Oars Q&A: Featuring Zac Kauffman. You are not making any sense. On one hand you say your oar length formula is the Bible and on the other hand you answer a question if 11’ oars would be good for a Hyside 16’ boat with a response like you’re shooting from the hip. That is essentially the same question I tried to ask when I began the journey to purchase my dream boat in July 2022. I decided on a Hyside 16 Pro XT as my main multi-day rig. I went through River Boat Works in Salida, CO for my frame. Next on the list was ordering the oars and blades. I scoured the internet trying to find guidance on oar length, which led me to your videos and the oar length formula. I didn’t have my boat yet and I had to estimate using Clint’s knowledge from River Boat Works and a post from mountainbuzz.com. At the time, I used 87” as the distance between oarlocks. Using your oar length formula I calculated 11.8’. Of note the actual distance between oarlocks on my boat is 89”, which calculates to be 12’. Did you know they don’t make the MX-G oar longer than 11’ at Sawyer. Ultimately, I went with 11’ oars because I couldn’t get anything bigger in the 1.75” diameter MX-G line. I’ve used the oars on one multi-day trip and they seem okay. However, I’m hearing you say that 10.5’ will be a better fit for a Hyside 16’ boat not knowing if its the XT version or not. Furthermore, you are not making any sense. I appreciate what you do for the rafting community and I enjoy your content. Thanks for reading.