Best Wood Types For Boat Oars

When it comes to choosing the best wood for a boat oar, there are several factors to consider, including the type of boat, rowing style, and intended use. The most common materials for oars are hardwoods such as ash, maple, cherry, walnut, and spruce. Ash is known for its strength and durability, making it suitable for whitewater rafting oars and sculling oars. Spruce, on the other hand, is lightweight and flexible, providing an enjoyable rowing experience for pleasure rowing. Other factors to consider include the weight, stiffness, breaking strength, hardness, shrinkage, and decay resistance of the wood. Ultimately, the choice of wood depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the user.

Spruce is light and strong but not durable

Spruce is a popular choice for oars, especially for rowing for pleasure. It is significantly lighter than other North American softwoods, with a 7' oar weighing in at less than 2.5 pounds. It is also strong, with a rare piece of spruce being even stronger and lighter than Sitka spruce. However, it is not a suitable choice for whitewater conditions or situations where the oar may come into contact with obstacles, as it is a softwood and not very durable. For these situations, ash is a more durable choice, although it is heavier and less pleasurable to row with.

Spruce oars are handcrafted from a single piece of wood, with each piece being clear and free from any defects. They offer a distinctive flexibility, shock absorption, and warmth that cannot be duplicated by any other material, providing a truly unique rowing experience.

Spruce is also a good choice for flat blade oars, which are recommended for boats with flat or flatter bottoms. Flat blade oars made from spruce are extremely light, with a 7' spruce flat blade weighing approximately 2.25 pounds. They also have a prominent rib running from the throat of the shaft to about a third down the blade, providing necessary stiffness and strength, as well as a graceful transition from the shaft to the blade.

Overall, spruce is a good choice for boat oars if you are looking for something light and strong, especially for pleasure rowing or for boats with flat bottoms. However, if you are looking for something more durable, other woods like ash or maple may be a better option.

Ash is strong and tough but heavier

Ash is a strong and tough wood that is perfect for making paddles and oars. It is indigenous to Maine and is the strongest of the hardwoods used for paddles and oars. Ash provides long straight grains and is very tough. This makes a paddle with the perfect flex for paddling while also providing elasticity beyond what the paddle should ever encounter in normal use. Ash oars are heavier and best suited if rocks will be encountered, for very hard use, or if they will be used to push off the bottom.

Ash oars are also used when overall durability is a concern. The material's elasticity and flexibility provide a performance benefit. Whitewater rafting oars are often made from ash as the material can withstand the abuse of rocky river bottoms. Ash is similar to oak in strength, hardness and shock resistance. It is fairly easy to work with sharp tools, sands well and bends well under steam. Though it is rot-resistant, it is not suitable for planking. It is primarily used in smaller round-bottomed hulls for frames, oars, boat hooks, breasthooks, handles and poles.

If you are going to be rowing for pleasure, spruce is recommended as a wood species for your oars. Spruce is light and strong but less durable than ash. If you envision the oars sitting at the bottom of the boat, getting stepped on and stuck with fish hooks, then ash is a more durable choice but heavier and less pleasurable to row with. Because spruce is a softwood, it is not recommended for use in whitewater conditions or situations where the oar or paddle may come into contact with rocks and other obstacles.

Soft maple is durable and has a good strength-to-weight ratio

Soft maple is a durable, closed-grain hardwood with a good strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it a great choice for a variety of conditions. Soft maple is also about the same weight as ash, often slightly lighter. This means that it is a good choice for oars if you are looking for something that is durable and lightweight.

Soft maple is a standard, non-premium, hardwood species for paddle-making. It features a moderate flex and is great with both a varnished or oiled finish. While soft maple is not commonly used for oars, it is a standard option for Adirondack Guide Boat Oars.

When choosing wood for boatbuilding, it is important to consider the weight, stiffness, breaking strength, hardness, shrinkage, and decay resistance of the wood. The weight of the wood is important because you will generally want your boat to be as light as possible. Stiffness is good because with stiff wood, you can reduce the dimensions without making your boat too soft or flexible. Breaking strength refers to how much force must be applied to the wood before it breaks. Under normal conditions, your boat parts should never be anywhere near their breaking strength, but high breaking strength can be an advantage in the case of an impact. The hardness of the wood is measured on the Janka scale, which indicates how much pressure is needed to press a steel ball halfway into the surface of the wood. In other words, how much pressure it takes to make a dent in the wood. Harder wood is good if your boat takes a lot of abuse.

When it comes to boatbuilding, it is also important to consider the shrinkage and decay resistance of the wood. Wood that shrinks and swells a lot will tend to have plank seams opening up more when the boat dries out after spending time in the water. Decay resistance indicates how well the wood resists rot when it is in a humid environment. Boats often spend time in humid environments, so you will generally want the wood for your boat to be as durable as possible. However, if you can keep the wood dry, either by storing your boat on land or by coating your wood with epoxy, varnish, or paint, rot is not a problem. Wood that is dry cannot rot.

White oak is dense, hard, strong and resistant to shrinking and swelling

White oak is a dense, hard, and strong wood that is highly resistant to shrinking and swelling, making it the ideal timber for ship and boat building. Its density, hardness, and strength make it perfect for use in framing and as the main longitudinal timber for boats. Its ability to hold fastenings and resist shrinking and swelling when wet are key characteristics that make it the timber of choice for boat builders.

White oak is also highly resistant to dry rot, making it a durable option for boats that will be exposed to water for long periods. Its resistance to shrinking and swelling means that it will not warp or crack easily, ensuring the structural integrity of the boat over time. This is especially important for the framing and main longitudinal timbering of boats, where strength and stability are crucial.

The density and hardness of white oak also make it suitable for use in hardware mounts and other fittings. Its density gives it the toughness required for these applications, and its natural oils provide outstanding resistance to moisture. White oak can even be left unfinished without compromising its longevity, making it a low-maintenance option for boat builders.

In addition to its functional benefits, white oak is also aesthetically pleasing. Its colour and texture can embody the romance of the sea, making it a popular choice for boat builders who want to combine style with performance. White oak is also similar in strength, hardness, and shock resistance to white ash, which is commonly used for oars and paddles.

Overall, white oak's density, hardness, strength, and resistance to shrinking and swelling make it an excellent choice for boat building, particularly for the framing and main longitudinal timbering. Its durability, stability, and toughness ensure that boats built with white oak will withstand the rigours of marine environments.

Teak is strong, durable and resistant to moisture

Teak is one of the most noble boatbuilding woods. Its natural resin gives it superior resistance to moisture and dry rot. Boats made of teak have been known to last for centuries.

Teak is a very heavy and hard wood with dense fibres. It is also strong and durable. Its natural oils provide outstanding resistance to moisture, and it can be left unfinished without compromising its longevity. The teak of the cave temples in Salsette, India, is two thousand years old and perfectly intact.

The British Admiralty pilot books still warn cargo ships to avoid colliding with Asian teak-hulled junks, as the wood often prevails against steel hull plates. Teak is also used for exterior marine surfaces such as decks, gunwales, and hardware mounts.

When it comes to oars, it is important to consider the type of boat and rowing style to determine the correct length and blade style. Flat blade oars are typically used for boats with flat or flatter bottoms, while spoon blade oars are more efficient for boats with rounded bottoms. While teak is an excellent choice for boatbuilding due to its strength and moisture resistance, it may not be the best option for oars if they will be used for pleasure rowing or whitewater conditions. Lighter woods such as spruce or ash may be more suitable in these cases, as they are more flexible and provide a more pleasurable rowing experience.

Frequently asked questions