8' Sitka Spruce Oars

It's been a couple of years since I was last asked to make a pair of oars. This new order for a pair of 8' Sitka Spuce oars was welcomed as it is an enjoyable process. However, I had forgotten what a time consuming process it is. First up was collecting the timber and laminating the blade section to the loom with the Sapele veneers in between. Then the scoop and plan view of the blade was cut on a large bandsaw. Next up was shaping the blades using a homemade bollow plane, spokeshave and block plane. Once this was done the sapele tips were glued on and the looms (or handles) were rounded off. Then it was sanding, more sanding and then varnishing. Finally, I fitted some leathers to protect the oars from the rowlocks and delivered them to the customer near Southampton UK.

The finished 8' sitka spruce oars