These
lightweight oars are made from dimension lumber and plywood.
The
shaft is 1 1/2"x1 1/2" cut from an 8 ft. 2x6 plank, tapered
as shown. Spruce is preferred but fir will do. Scarf a 6" extension
at the tip to support the blade end. 5/16" cheeks are glued
on the shaft then shaped round to 2" dia. for the oarlock.
1/16" Leather is glued on the round with epoxy. A Kevlar roving
strand is laminated with epoxy on the fore and aft face of the shaft.
The Turk's Head Is made with 3/16" nylon braided line. An alternate
button can be made with a 5 turn wrap of 1/16" x 3/4"
Leather...al1 epoxied in place. Make the blade from 1/4" P1y.
Luan under1ayment is a good choice.
This
is quite simple but I asure you it will take some practice to get
it right. Use a 5-ft piece of line and make a Clove Hitch that is
about 2 1/2" in diameter near the end. Now the trick is to
pull the hitch together leaving two sort of floppy loops.
Now
twist the loops back and forth weaving the fall of the line around,
under and out the openings from side to side to form a braid. This
pattern is repeated seven times. At this point adjust the knot so
all of the braid patterns are uniform in size. Then continue weaving
the line along side of the first strand so that the whole pattern
becomes a double braid. Slide the knot on the oar; then make it
as tight as you can. Use an awl or needle nose pliers to pull the
strands. Start at one end and pull each strand continuously following
in and out of the braid from one end to the other.
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