Roger Rippy's Page

"Roger, Our water here in Michigan is the definition of mellow... but I still carry a spare just in case. In my case I have a Sawyer Pole cat that is a 2 piece, and my blade is wood that is separate. So the 2 shaft sections and the blade get bungee…"

"Roger,  What about making your own spare? When building my boat I decided to build my own oars.  If I remember correctly  I got 4 oars out of $250 supplies  and  an enjoyable time building them.   You can look at some…"

"Thanks to everyone who replied; I certainly appreciate the information and some of the stories that went with them. Although I have had a number of boats over the years, this is the first drift boat. I am refinishing a Stu Williams boat built by him…"

"I once stuck a downstream oar on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. It was a large diameter ash Smoker oar. I  was amazed to see it form a c-shape before it dislodged itself from the oarlock and the bottom at the same time. Like an arrow it sprang…"

"Forty years of floating and never needed it, YET.  I always carry one and keep it handy even if it is a bit cumbersome.  Robb is right on, but then that is his business.   As pros we never get lax in safety.  All boaters…"

"Yes, I always carry a spare oar in my drift boat, or paddle if canoeing.  I have had oars pop out of the oarlocks and used the spare.  They do need to be easily accessible.  I find them cumbersome when fishing and do not tie them…"

"Roger, Do you carry a spare tire for your truck and boat trailer? Do you wear a life jacket? hope so... Those stupid spare oars are always getting in the way, nowhere convenient to put them and when you really need it, usually the spare was an after…"

"Rippy:  We got a 2 piece, at some place in Livingston.  Think it had an aluminum shaft/furrel system. Strapped it under the forward seat. It might have been a Carlyle but don"t remember.  Boats in WA-so can't give you any…"

"barkleysoundoar.com/ I just got three new ones yesterday. Beautiful. "

"most hardware stores carry aquastrip,comes in a white plastic bucket"

"A J  Where do you get the stuff?   "

"Aqua Strip.  It works."

"Roger,  There are only five ways that I know of.  In order of increasing severity these are sanding or grinding, chemical stripping, heat gun, high pressure water, and grit blasting. I'd try chemical stripping.  Just…"

"Thanks Pete in Maine. I still working to get the DB off; because of my work schedule, I only get to work on the boat on the weekends. I will be glad when these NFL playoffs get over with so I can get back to getting the boat ready for refinishing.…"

"Instead of sand I use ( black beauty ) a sand blasting composite with my last coat of deck paint. I have found that to be the best alternative. Pete in Maine"

"Well lhedrick, you have good points. The more that I look at this stuff, the more I wonder if it is really DB or something else. I still need to call the builder, Stu Williams in Missoula, MT and ask him. He is still building boats and they do not…"