Sawyer Light Oar

Description & Features

Sawyer Light Oars are the go-to choice for Northwest drift boat guides who row long days in varied conditions. Built from full laminated Douglas fir, these oars offer an ideal balance of strength, light weight, and responsive flex. The lively feel reduces fatigue while maintaining control and efficiency stroke after stroke. A Dynel and Kevlar Pro-Tip comes standard to protect the blade from rocks and river debris.

Features

• Full laminated Douglas fir construction delivers consistent strength, light swing weight, and reliable performance.
• Tapered shaft circumference creates a counterbalanced feel with smooth, predictable flex.
• Laminated fir blade with solid ash edges for added durability in rocky river conditions.
• Reinforced metal spline in the tip increases impact resistance and blade longevity.
• Slight crown power face provides a smooth, controlled stroke with clean catch and release.
• Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip protects the blade edge from abrasion and impacts.
• Marine-grade spar varnish seals the wood against moisture while highlighting natural grain.
• Grip configuration by length: up to 9' includes round barrel grip with black vinyl covers; over 9'6" uses a straight grip.
• Standard outfitter setup includes rope wrap, rubber stop, and Pro-Tip.

Specs

• Lengths: 8'–12' overall length
• Shaft diameter: 2.3" at wrap.
• Shaft protection: Rope wrap and rubber stop.
• Blade dimensions: 5.5" wide x variable length based on oar size.
• Blade protection: Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip.

Materials & Construction

Laminated Fir Oar Shaft

Our laminated fir oar shafts are built by bonding layers of Douglas fir into a single, engineered shaft for strength, light weight, and consistent performance. This construction improves resistance to warping and twisting while allowing the grain to be oriented for smooth, predictable flex and rebound. The result is an oar shaft that feels lively and responsive, absorbs shock to reduce joint fatigue, and holds up to repeated stress in demanding river conditions.

Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip Protection

The Pro-Tip adds Kevlar and Dynel protection at the edge or tip of the blade, where it takes the most abuse for unmatched abrasion and impact resistance. This tough reinforcement guards against rock hits and hard use while extending blade life and maintaining reliable performance over time.

Marine-Grade Spar Varnish

A premium marine-grade spar varnish finish seals against moisture and UV rays while bringing out the natural wood grain and craftsmanship Sawyer is known for.