This email is in regard to a revision to a set of sweeps in an effort to make rowing easier.

It appears the shaving of the blades, as I was mentioning was maybe the most difficult way to go. Bill Tytus (Pocock Boats), suggests the following:

1. Extend the collar of the oar to the very end of the sleeve (toward the blade end). This is much easier than changing the collars as they are epoxied to the oar shaft. This will move the blade toward the shell, resulting in an easier effort to move the blade through the stroke cycle.

However, there is a little trick to doing this if the handle is to be extended again. That is to first drill a hole through the center of the oar handle, a little past where the oar will be cut off. Be sure to match and mark the two parts. It may be that a portion of the handle might be chosen to be replaced. Then you simply put a dowel in the hole and glue the cut off piece back on. But normally, that should not be necessary. This action will maybe answer some questions however.

It may be worth the effort to try the collar change first, without cutting the oar handle - but it may be difficult to row since the oar handle may hit the opposite side of the boat.

Well, there you have it. I think it is worth a try. The oar handle can always be restored.

BTW, the oar handles could probably be reduced in diameter for your group. It would sure make it a lot easier to grip and possibly avoid a crab.

Let me know how this turns out.

Thanks,

Guy

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