Hello everyone. I've been reading the forum for a while, and reading WoodenBoat for years. I've recently embarked on my first boat, and I'm starting to put together some oars for her. I was reading up, and have come to something where I'm really out of my element. I picked up this 8/4 Ash this afternoon, and just want to make sure I'm understanding what I'm reading.

Here is the only tricky part: the grain of the oar piece must lie so that the grain runs in the same direction as the length of the boat. When you apply pressure, you do not want that pressure applied on the flat grain. The flat grain, in other words, will lie against the gunnel. Glue your short pieces so that the pieces are glued to the flat grain of the oar [the long piece].


This is the boat so far... next step is to glass the chines.



Thanks for the help everyone, and keep up the great work.