Quick Rafting Tip: A New Way to Ship Your Oars

Quick Rafting Tip: A New Way to Ship Your Oars

To ship your oars means to stop rowing and pull the oars inside or next to the boat.

You can do this a number of ways and for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re approaching a narrow rowing spot, or coming close to the bank, or another boat. You can point the blades forward, backward or simply pull them across the boat with blades still sticking out. 

This video from the Gear Garage does a great job of explaining the different ways to ship your oars and why you would do such a thing.

Most of us here are anglers, so I thought I’d share a little system I stole from the whitewater world on a (semi-permanent) way to ship your oars using a small loop of rope, both towards the bow and stern sections of your boat. This way, you have the choice of directing your blades forward or backward.

I personally love getting the blades out of the water when I’m anchored and they are making noise against the boat. If I’m tethered up with other boats, or when I’m rowing and need to tend to other business, I can quickly throw one, or both, oar handles in these loops.

I don’t have to worry about the oars touching the bottom or rocks, or potential injuries to myself or anyone else in my boat should an oar pop out. 

They are easy to make, install and can be done on drift boat gunnels or any raft frame. 

Try them out, and I’ll bet you’ll like them as a safety/smarter rowing solution.

All you need is a small length or rope and a double fisherman's knot.