oarsmen........

[RIORESIDENT]

getting ready to cut down some carlise oars. building a new frame for my 12' hyside cat. there will be only about 2-2.5' between the tubes. Building primarily for low water Rio Grande trips. anyway, I can buy new grips for oars after the cut down for pretty cheap, but if there is anything i could do to salvage a re-use the current grips, it would be my choice. never had to replace a grip, so any advice appreciated.

Rio~

[okieboater]

Best way is for sure to reuse the old ones.

But, you might take a look at the new catarac weighted grips.

I looked on their web site and sent them a email asking if they would sell me the new grips to retro fit on my existing catarac oar shafts.

They did not recommend a retro fit and gave no reasons.

However, with your tools and skills with same, you might be able to. Anyway, take a look at them if for nothing else maybe an idea.

IE can your old grips be drilled for maybe some lead to be poured in for a counter weight.

[RIORESIDENT]

well, the oars are only going to be about 5.5-6' long in total, so im thinking there will be no need for any extra weight. Im thinking if i cut them off, i could use a cutting wheel to slice off the shaft material, if i need too, but was thinking they are probably glued in, and was thinking about some sort of "agent" to cut the glue.

[Crane]

Are you going to take your towers to the outside of the tubes? That would give you more swing & leverage & allow oars a little longer in the same space... Just a thought...

[okieboater]

My guess is that glue is gonna be pretty strong.

Maybe contact carlise and ask them if heat will loosen it up

Sometimes a little propane torch heat and a padded vise to grip the handles and a good twist and you might get lucky.

[RIORESIDENT]

crane, I have a plan for the towers that will allow them to be on the outside of the tubes. Planning on building within the month, and will try to get some photos posted.

[ryno]

rio cut them down from the blade end and leave the handles alone. just drill the proper size hole for the keeper button on the blade. all carlile oars are is a plastic coated aluminum tube with handles glued in.

[okieboater]

ryno,

Thanks for thinking out of the box

That solution is the way to go.

[scott yarbrough]

Not to be the fly in the ointment, but those Carlise oars have a second tube inside them. If you cut from the bottom and then drill a new hole for the round black keeper button, then the blade will not slide all the way into the oar. You can use another piece of round tubing to beat on it. You have to beat the inside tube farther up(towards the handle) the oar to give it enough room for the blade to go in. That "can" be done. However it is very hard.

Jeromy, it sounds like your building your own version of a Jacks Plastic Cutthroat.
http://www.jpwinc.com/index.php?page=photo&photo_id=29

I have one and think it is great. The only problem is mine needs some adjustable foot pegs. When you go off a steep drop(like the mother) mine has nothing you can use to "pin" yourself to the boat. I have slide off of mine only to have the boat simply float over my flailing body in the rapid. However it was patiently waiting for me once I swam back to it. Just my two cents, sounds like a great build. Post us some pictures when your done.

[okieboater]

Once again this msg board has a lot of information to share.

Now I gotta go out and check out the oar shafts stored in the boat house.

Rio, best answer might be a new set of oar shafts.


outdoorplay.com

has pretty good prices on carlise oar shafts

[robkanraft]

I've whacked a couple of Carlilse shafts down and as Scott said, it ain't pretty. Man I was PO'd to find that second inner tube! I won't do it again, used shafts are pretty cheap and available.

[RIORESIDENT]

right on guys, much appreciated. I will do a bit more pondering before i modify the shafts.

scott, your dead on. it will be very simailar to a cutthroat. Im actually working on a trailer extention for the rear of my raft right now, and will be building the cat frame a little later. shouldn't be to long for both projects, and sure will post some pics when complete.

thanks again all.

Rio~

[Matt'yak]

right on guys, much appreciated. I will do a bit more pondering before i modify the shafts.

scott, your dead on. it will be very simailar to a cutthroat. Im actually working on a trailer extention for the rear of my raft right now, and will be building the cat frame a little later. shouldn't be to long for both projects, and sure will post some pics when complete.

thanks again all.

Rio~

Rio - Looks like you are staying busy in the shop. Hope things are going well for you out there.

[RIORESIDENT]

yep, staying busy, but not to busy that I can't work on a few projects of my own.

I think i have knocked off about 50 or so to-do's around the ranch, some minor, some major. too bad the list is close to 1000 give or take.....

Yikes..

Rio~