New sculling oar question

Brad Taylor (NC)

Brad Taylor (NC)

Well-known member
In addition to the fine sculling oar I picked up off Steve Wheeler, I purchased a Jim Whitney sculling oar from Shaw & Tenney. It is in the unfinished state since it is going to be painted. So my question is two fold, should I fiberglass the end as I know many of the sculling oars have glass on the end. And secondly, I usually coat bare wood with epoxy before painting, think I should do the same here or just paint?

Thanks,
Brad
 
Hi, Brad~

How about copper tips? I believe believe Shaw & Tenney have them.

If the oars are bare wood, I would coat with boiled linseed oil - then a couple of coats of paint after a week or so. And, I would leave the grip just oiled - and re-coat it every off-season.

All the best,

SJS
 
Hi, Brad~

How about copper tips? I believe believe Shaw & Tenney have them.

If the oars are bare wood, I would coat with boiled linseed oil - then a couple of coats of paint after a week or so. And, I would leave the grip just oiled - and re-coat it every off-season.

All the best,

SJS
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Thanks Steve. The oar from Steve Wheeler is already painted and I know that he fiberglassed the tip. As for the Shaw & Tenney, its unfinished. I looked up copper tips and just as I was getting excited about them, I ran into several threads where S&T recommended against using copper tips as the nails would possibly introduce moisture and eventually lead to cracks.

Thanks,
Brad
 
When I got my float 2 years ago it came with a new S/T oar. It got 3 coats of Lou's FME. And the leather got a good slathering of lanolin. The leather gets redone when it's starts getting dry and the oar hasn't needed any thing. I thought the wood looked great and kind of wanted to keep it but it's a hunting boat and scull boats have but one job.
 
Your sculling oar is not generally going to see the abuse a rowing oar will, at least not mine. A rowing oar might get used as a push pole, fend off a dock, rock, boat, might be a walking stick, and might be a mud spud.... but the sculling oar is used for sculling, and maybe to push the bow weight down in the bow. I would seal it and paint it. The last thing I would consider on a sculling oar is the copper tip. I would avoid any tacks or nails in an oar. I glued and sewn the leathers on my oars and the spars for scull float and the sail rig on the BBSB.
 
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My father always said if you paint the handle of oars you will get blisters on your hands if you row a lot. sand the handle and coat with linseed oil. that is what I have always done, seem to work you can paint the oars just not the handle part.
my two cents Jim
 
I have 2 org. Whitney sculling oars and both have copper shoes on end of blade- its has save me from chipping the oar on rocks and if I need to use it to push off it protects it as well- I would not fiberglass it- is it made out of ash? and I would put a notch in top of handle to know top from bottom- and a 1/2 inch slug of lead in a copper tube- to keep oar down when you drop it to shoot! very important! and no paint on area where your hand will scull it- Great Oar! and I assume its leathered- so use sno-seal on it and reapply as it dries out, make sure stiches are on top of oar! the org. had the leather tacked in, but a very knowledgeable sculler told me to remove the tacks and he sewed the leather on. and to be honest told me all of this as well!
 
When I got my float 2 years ago it came with a new S/T oar. It got 3 coats of Lou's FME. And the leather got a good slathering of lanolin. The leather gets redone when it's starts getting dry and the oar hasn't needed any thing. I thought the wood looked great and kind of wanted to keep it but it's a hunting boat and scull boats have but one job.
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I know what you mean! Sure is pretty but getting ready to get some FME!

Brad
 
Your sculling oar is not generally going to see the abuse a rowing oar will, at least not mine. A rowing oar might get used as a push pole, fend off a dock, rock, boat, might be a walking stick, and might be a mud spud.... but the sculling oar is used for sculling, and maybe to push the bow weight down in the bow. I would seal it and paint it. The last thing I would consider on a sculling oar is the copper tip. I would avoid any tacks or nails in an oar. I glued and sewn the leathers on my oars and the spars for scull float and the sail rig on the BBSB.
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Thanks Dave. I can easily see where the tacks would be an issue.

Brad
 
My father always said if you paint the handle of oars you will get blisters on your hands if you row a lot. sand the handle and coat with linseed oil. that is what I have always done, seem to work you can paint the oars just not the handle part.
my two cents Jim
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I had read that as well about not painting the handle.

Brad
 
I have 2 org. Whitney sculling oars and both have copper shoes on end of blade- its has save me from chipping the oar on rocks and if I need to use it to push off it protects it as well- I would not fiberglass it- is it made out of ash? and I would put a notch in top of handle to know top from bottom- and a 1/2 inch slug of lead in a copper tube- to keep oar down when you drop it to shoot! very important! and no paint on area where your hand will scull it- Great Oar! and I assume its leathered- so use sno-seal on it and reapply as it dries out, make sure stiches are on top of oar! the org. had the leather tacked in, but a very knowledgeable sculler told me to remove the tacks and he sewed the leather on. and to be honest told me all of this as well!
Click to expand...

Thanks John. That's a pretty cool idea on the lead slug to get it drop down when you let go. The oar I have from Steve Wheeler has a flat spot on top of the handle so you know the oar position as well.

Brad
 
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