ray magnan's Page

"Jamestown Distributers have the Oar leathers for $ 41.99 a set.  Re: Item No. PKO-233001   http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=4071&familyName=Oar+Leathers"

"This is kind of timely... I just found these guys and they have a decent looking leather oar collar kit -- for $54.75 per pair about half way down the page: http://barkleysoundoar.com/Product.htm#products They make sitka spruce oars too and are in…"

"Sitka spruce is much like western hemlock, only sexier :) Fairly soft to the touch, slightly less dense than hemlock and other spruces, about the same as Alaskan yellow cedar, or old growth redwood (if you remember that stuff, but sitka is stiffer…"

"Those oars look beautiful.  Ever since rowing a pair of spruce oars I have wanted a set. I have a question or 2.   I have never worked with spurce and don't know how to select it or what to look for.  Should I get some and let…"

"Very nice oars Ray. I learned the same things re shaping, though like Dave, used a power plane to thin the blades some. Dave, nice tip on wetting the wood. Michael"

"Nice set of oars. The leather work does look pretty classy. Rick Newman"

"I made these 10 ft ash oars last year with the help of WBP. It just so happens that I tore into the 'spare' set yesterday to lighten them up. I really like the leathers and the smoothness in the lock. I had concerns that they might slip…"

"Brad Dimock did a very informative presentation on installing the leather right here on Wooden Boat People. I'll bet a search on these pages will find it. Rick Newman"

"Ray:  Nice work.  I bet R.D. Culler has a big grin on his face.  Tie  a turks head knot for a stopper and find some leather instead of nylon rope Good Luck"

"Those look nice.  Take some closer detail pictures of those babies.   I built a set from solid ash.  Cut the trees down 7 years ago, had them sawn into 3" by 10" by 10', then stuck them on the wood racks to dray for 6 5…"

"Really great work Ray!"

"Hello Rick and thank you for the kind compliment. Purchased the V/G  dead dry mast grade Sitka spruce from Vancouver island. 2-8/4 x8" x 9' and 1-8/4 x 8" x 12'.   Cost about $240.00 Canadian.  Have enough material…"

"Ray, your oars look wonderful. Sometimes the old tools are the best tools. I have been fortunate to pickup some nice old planes for $5 or $6 dollars. With very little work and in one case a new blade they have been good tools. I don't remember…"

"Michael,  Those are remarkable!  Great job.  I saved all of your pictures for future reference.  Guy"

"Spent most of the weekend digging around the net after your first email. No use re-inventing the wheel if I can find the info on the net. Found this while researching http://riverswest.org/Pete_Culler_Oars.pdf Exactly what I needed. Now all I need…"

"www.woodenboatpeople.com/photo/albums/oarmaking-1 Michael"