geartalk

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.

BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #2

THESE STORIES ARE A MESSAGE OF HOPE

I have cameras galore and God knows I have the stories, so let’s go catch baby Tarpon. Some of the stories are page thirteen, but the main thing is–put the fun back in fishing. You guys have only seen the first part of the show. Copi is going to publish some photos, but we need to convince everyone there’s still hope for this valley. Hell, all I need is someone to hang out and a tape recorder. We have high-definition cameras for filming this summer. I hope to be guiding and spending time with friends and fishing with my son. I’m blessed I have the flexibility. One of my buddies from the old Taylor Creek days shot Chris Davenport’s Ski the 14ers project. His uncle took a hit in Vietnam and is the most incredible paraplegic fishermen you’ve ever seen. The real story is how great the fishing is on the Fork and that we have a chance to save it and that the guides need the work. This is a vehicle to help save the drainage, and we can do it. All we need is someone who can type, because I have a story to tell and you’ve only heard the opening scene. God puts people in my life for a reason, and we need a message of hope. I know we can tell this story and afterwards, people can take it or leave it. I need time to laugh, as does our entire nation. I know RA Beattie and his stepdad who owns Stren. Remember there are only three good fishing movies and people need entertainment. Come over and we’ll fish and talk and take our sons to drive-in movies at the Skyvue Theatre in Delta, or the theater in scenic BONEDALE. See if you can find The Point! by Harry Nilsson–it’s a great animated film that showed in 72’ at the Crystal Theatre. WE CAN DO THIS. Then we can make any kind of fishing movie we want, and we won’t have to sell scrap metal to make a living, and I can row a boat and fish. I’m already starting to book up for the summer and want to donate more trips to charity. Remember the crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe. Let’s have fun and make some art. We can do this my friends, and the time is now. I have been doing nothing but sitting at the WORLD HEADQUARTERS and wondering what to do next. I want to stay in fifth grade forever, and time is our most precious commodity. We got a bunch of the boys from Alpine Angling on the water the other day, and they were laughing pretty hard, but they need time too. The hawg is in the tunnel, so let’s roll. Your crazy friend and fellow guide who hates to type and loves to talk.

Live from the WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Kea C. Hause

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Kea C. Hause World Headquarters–so much greatness tucked away in every corner of this little mother-in-law suite. Photo: Copi Vojta

Don’t Forget Your Drift Boat Extras

What do I mean by extras? Little things you or your fishing partner might forget on the next journey–items that would really bum you out if forgotten, like your sunglasses, or rain jacket.

Forgetting this stuff won’t ruin your day, but it might make the day more difficult, even uncomfortable.

While most of these items are superfluous, a few are not. I also included an emergency water filter straw, minimal first aid kit with fire starters, a couple pairs of hand warmers and masks for wildfire smoke or sickness. While my “extras kit” lives in a waterproof ammo can, a dry bag might make more sense for your boat.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. Use old items, found items and cheaper “seconds” you wouldn’t want to necessarily use yourself on a daily basis.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in the box…

• Extra hat
• Extra sunglasses‍
• Hand warmers‍
• LifeStraw personal water filter
• Spare packable rain jacket
• Spare sun protective hoody
• Waterproof flashlight (no batteries installed)
• NOSO patches for repairing gear
• Fabric bandages (Welly makes great tin kits)
• Extra hemostats, nippers (for fishing)
• Wag bag #2 emergencies 
• Leatherman multi-tool

What did we forget? Send us any additions, and we’ll add to the list…

A number of years ago I was T-boned in an intersection about a mile from my house from a driver who’d gone through a light.

I was also towing a recently refurbished wooden drift boat, which sadly, was also destroyed.

The car flipped on it’s side, and the boat ejected off the trailer. In the back of my Jeep was a 30-pound anchor, which punched a basketball-sized hole in the rear window about 6 inches behind where my three-year-old daughter’s head was. The anchor flew about 50 feet due to the force of the collision. Luckily, it went sideways instead of forward.

Sadly, I knew better.

This was a wake-up call for me and should be for anyone who uses an anchor while fishing from your boat. Do not leave it unsecured in the back of your truck, or car. Make sure it’s out of your vehicle on your trailer in an anchor nest, with a very stout tensile strength rope, or length of chain. Even chain it to the frame of your raft, if you prefer.

More recently, I was turned on to another hack: Using a climbing quick draw to secure your anchor to a hardened point in your trunk, or truck bed. Quick draws are climbing equipment that consist of two carabiners connected with a piece of hardened webbing material that are designed to take incredibly high loads and have a very tough breaking strength. Just think of a fully grown person falling off a rock and coming to a sudden stop. You get the picture...

In my opinion, quick draws are the only thing I’d secure an anchor with while traveling.

And anything is better than having it turn into a flying, deadly projectile if you get in an accident.