Email This Page to a FriendStitching Oar Leathers
August 29, 2013
From the placement of oar leathers on the shaft, to the stitching technique, to attaching the button, see the entire process of dressing your oars for a life on the water.
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Also see our oar making video made at Shaw & Tenney
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13 Responses So Far to “Stitching Oar Leathers”:

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I think I remember a video from havilah Hawkins and one from Maynard bray where both of thos geniuses said don’t leather an oar. I’m going to look back and if I’m right, there wil be no leather on my oars. I know the S&T oars are too pretty to scuff up but I think the gods from Maine might know something we average ones don’t🤪
Hey Lannis. Havilah and Maynard both use Ash oars, so they are much harder wood and can handle no leathers. I believe that they might have crafted their own ash oars. The softer spruce oars definitely need leathers. I believe that Maynard “oils” his oarlocks with beeswax for a silky smooth and quiet stroke. You can ask Shaw & Tenney if they make any ash oars, and I bet Wes Reddick at Rowers’ Oars can handle that.
Good video, watched a few times, took notes & installed leathers on oars for a John Welsford Balance Lug plywood dinghy in Australia, pleased with result
Nice, Sam is a pro!
Great video. Keep the contact cement to a minimum or not at all unless you’re a pro.I had trouble getting the leather stretched because I used too much cement. Fingerless gloves are also a big help, just like on the video. Pretty clumsy with fingers on gloves.
It would have been nice if the guy slowed down a bit to illuminate the process instead of basically demonstrating his mastery of the technique. If I had to duplicate the process based on what was offered I would be hard pressed without a few more viewings.
Lovely work.
To see the artistry of these tradesman in your videos is a pleasure and an education.
How about adding a video covering the other alternative – applying the leather to the oar lock?
Good idea Tom. We will explore this.
Very nice video… covered it all well!
Wow, when I installed leathers on a set of oars a few years back for our little Puffin dinghy, they sure did not come out like that!
There is as much information in the silent sections watching him work as there is from the lecture. Lots of little movements with the needle that warrant review and replication. This was fascinating. – pjw
Lovely work.
To see the artistry of these tradesman in your videos is a pleasure and an education.