Revisiting the Pros and Cons of Counterbalanced Oars

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[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Great video. In the fishing world counterbalance rules. Lots of oar strokes, lots of backward oar strokes. Agree most people have oars that are too short and the handles are too far apart.

[@petergonsalves9381]

As much as we have spoke about oars, the conversation never gets old because people have their own little preferences and variations. Great conversation.

[@petergonsalves9381]

Much of my oar set up is determined by my most efficient brace position, which is. When I brace to punch a hole, t-up a wave or cross a lateral pushing. My ideal brace position is: Sitting strait up with feet planted. Elbows Slightly in front of shoulders. Hands at nipple height. The key to this brace position is to squeeze your elbows into your ribs when bracing. When bracing I squeeze my elbows in and engage my wrists and arms to keep the oar in the brace position. To me, having this brace position dialed is the most important part of my set up.

[@BladePressure]

You have talked about the width of the oar locks - can you talk about the oar lock distance away (forward) from where you sit

[@greganderson7846]

Dude, you may be an insecure person but I have learned so much from your videos it's ridiculous. Keep it up and puff your chest out, you earned it! Your helping a lot of people like me who are new to the sport and trying to learn. Floating the MF next week and am stoked! Thanks for all the videos and keep em coming!

[@GearGarageTV]

Thanks!

[@brianruffatto4512]

Love your content. Recently had a “debate” with my dad about how far appart your oar locks should be on one of his boats. The way you approach these discussions showed me a way to approach it again without the fire works. Much appreciated. B

[@BMIutah]

I would love a video on seats on rafts. When you like a tractor seat and when you don't. I noticed many different types of seats on your boats and wondering when you like each

[@zacharyparsons6289]

Great discussion from Zach as usual. I recently got counterbalanced oars for my 16' gear boat and I'm a fan. The weightless feeling while pushing the oar handles down is really cool and it's noticeable with my big 11' oars. I get what he's saying about extra mass to move around, but it's on a low friction pivot and I can't say I've ever noticed a difference - what's an extra few pounds when you're yarding on oars? And your push/pull chest and back muscles are much stronger than your up/down shoulder muscles. That said, I'm doing mostly CO/UT overnight trips with significant amounts of flatwater. I probably wouldn't want counterbalanced oars for maneuvering a cat on lower volume rivers.

[@BMIutah]

While i have literally done everything you have recommended in your videos, I do love the counterbalanced oars. It makes it so much easier over the course of the day. I can really tell on long oaring days in Utah. However. I do admit my oars do sink if the boat flips. I do have my oats on all my boats set up just as you recommended. I think that it does not matter on rivers that move well, on rivers that have a lot of dead space the counterbalanced oats make it very nice.

[@GearGarageTV]

On flat rivers in Utah I understand why you might add weight to your oar handles.

[@MartyZaluski]

Another great video - I'm becoming an addict 😌. I have a daughter that weighs about 115 - without CB oars (which I don't have, it's really tough for her).

[@SapperMan724]

Great info

[@calebteneyck3489]

I agree with the energy it takes to move the counter-balance. Especially if the oar starts a movement you don't want, i.e. if you dip your oar in to an eddy to turn but it pulls/pushes on the oar in the opposite direction you want, I've found (this could be in my head though) it's easier to hold a non-counter-balanced than a counter balanced in that situation. That being said, I was given a free set of counter-balanced so I run them on one set up I have, but buy non counter-balanced oars when i have the opportunity.

[@petergonsalves9381]

I really like overlapped oars. It just puts your oar handles in a great position to push or pull when the oars are in the water. That said I run 9ft oars but want to go to ten. For me the most important part of oar set up is the oars in water position and how that aligns to put you arms on n a push up position.

[@barrettheywood7826]

Most times I agree with you, but not here. Just bought CB oars. Felt lighter but didn't dramatically change anything for me. So far I've run SFA, 2x, Lower Tuolumne, and Lower Salmon (5 days). My wife on the other hand thought they were awesome. In her view, they took much less effort to row with. So there is probably some tipping point depending on the rower's strength. BTW I don't buy you can tell carrying to car is heavier but you can't tell the rowing is 'lighter". Come on Zach! 🙂

[@stephenglitzer831]

As a former cyclist, my wrists and hands would hurt me. I was told I was holding my handlebars wrong. I developed Carpal tunnel(sp?). So instead of instinctively grabbing the handle as anyone would I should be resting on the outside pads of my hand. It does feel better. Translated to rowing, I generally don’t hold the oar handle past the middle of my palm for these ergonomic considerations. Thus, I do prefer my oars just inside shoulder width. I love that techniques though and want to play with that.

[@BladePressure]

Looking fit Z man

[@sunpathviewer]

Thanks Zach…🚣🏼

[@samuellowe-anker6913]

Hey Zach, you're cool man. ;)

[@caribouprecision8213]

You sure its not 1.618? The golden ratio? ;)