Barkley Sound Oar and Paddle defunct?

[AJZimm]

Apologies if this has been discussed on another thread, but if it was, I couldn't find it.

It appears that Barkley Sound Oar and Paddle here on Vancouver Island, the source for all the good Stika spruce oars I have used on previous boats, have closed for business, permanently. Their website returns an error message. I can find no other information about when and why this has happened. Another business victim of the pandemic, perhaps?

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Yeadon]

A search shows this ... https://julialott.wordpress.com/contact-us/

Makes me wonder if they accidentally let their URL lapse. It happens.

[Autonomous]

I seem to recall the owner retired.

[AJZimm]

A search shows this ... https://julialott.wordpress.com/contact-us/

Makes me wonder if they accidentally let their URL lapse. It happens.

I didn't find that during my search. No date on the site - I wonder how old or new it is?

I seem to recall the owner retired.

Wouldn't surprise me - they have been in business since 1984.


I notice there is no current ad in the magazine and there always used to be

[JimConlin]

There’s an email and a phone number. Anyone tried them before hanging crepe?

[robm]

According to Google Maps, they are permanently closed. Pity.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ba...4d-124.4753664

[coelcanth]

the sign out front also says 'business for sale'

maybe this shop is a good alternative ?:

http://www.towerwebsites.com/websites/index.php?username=fancyoars-paddles&page=3

[WI-Tom]

Van Fancy oars are good stuff, for sure. And less expensive than some without seeming to sacrifice quality.

Tom

[Yeadon]

Interesting to see the google map images. We must have driven out past there during our Barkley Sound trips.

[JimConlin]

+ 1 for Van Fancy. Adequate quality and very fair prices.

A few years back, I was making some very small skiffs for grandchildren and they made me some properly sized oars for them. Did a nice job.

[AJZimm]

Interesting to see the google map images. We must have driven out past there during our Barkley Sound trips.

We did.

I bought my first pair of oars directly from the shop years earlier while on a trip up-Island for another reason. It was a treat to see all that Sitka Spruce stock waiting to be turned into oars and paddles.

[AJZimm]

the sign out front also says 'business for sale'

maybe this shop is a good alternative ?:

http://www.towerwebsites.com/websites/index.php?username=fancyoars-paddles&page=3

Didn't know about them. A good resource, thanks.