by Eric Coleman

Oars are frequently used for pushing boats off the shore, to refloat them after going aground and as quant poles when a channel is too narrow for rowing. In areas where there is hard ground the tips, which are unprotected, suffer as a result and become frayed.

Protection for the tips can be provided as follows:-

(1) Sand the tip, for a width of 1”, down to the bare wood and dry thoroughly.

(2) If the tip is in rough condition leave it. If the oar is relatively new then make half a dozen holes each side of the blade to a depth of approx. ⅛” about ¼” in from the tip with ¼ drill. This is required in order to provide a key for the fibreglass treatment.

(3) Apply Holts “Cataloy” or similar resin to the tip and then wind two turns of fibreglass strip about ¾” wide so that it projects about ¼” beyond the corners of the tip. Allow to harden and then apply a second coat of resin and fill the hollow portions of the tip with resin.

(4) Allow to harden and then finish off with a smooth file.