Description & Features
Sawyer Steelhead SquareTop Oar is for rowers seeking efficiency, control, and a refined feel. The SquareTop design shifts weight toward the handle, naturally counterbalancing the oar to reduce fatigue over long days. Each stroke remains smooth and consistent, improving precision in current, wind, and technical water. This Artisan edition features a custom Steelhead wrap by Link Jackson, making it a functional piece of river-inspired craftsmanship. Reinforced with an X-Weave carbon fiber wrap and a DyneLite blade, it delivers durability, responsiveness, and long-term reliability. A portion of each sale supports Idaho Rivers United in protecting wild rivers and fisheries.
Features
- SquareTop counterbalance reduces swing weight and rowing fatigue
- Smoother, more efficient stroke for better control and timing
- Artisan Steelhead graphics by Link Jackson for a custom, one-of-a-kind look
- Laminated Douglas fir shaft for strength with a natural, forgiving flex
- Carbon fiber X-Weave reinforcement adds stiffness and rebound without harsh feel
- DyneLite blade delivers lightweight durability and consistent power
- Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip protects against rock impact and abrasion
- Rope wrap and rubber stop included for secure, ready-to-row setup
- Sold individually
Specs
- Lengths: 8’ to 10’ (overall)
- Shaft Diameter: 2.3” (at wrap)
- Blade Options: Narrow 6” x 30”, Wide 7” x 30”, Shoal Cut 8.5” x 30”
- Shaft Material: Laminated Douglas fir
- Shaft Reinforcement: Carbon fiber X-Weave
- Blade Construction: Carbon fiber reinforced DyneLite
- Blade Protection: Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip
- Shaft Protection: Rope wrap with rubber stop
Supports Idaho Rivers United
A portion of each oar sale supports Idaho Rivers United in protecting and restoring Idaho’s rivers and fisheries—ensuring clean, free-flowing waters for communities, native fish and wildlife, and future generations. Your support helps keep Idaho’s rivers wild, healthy, and thriving.
Learn more at www.idahorivers.org.
Materials & Construction
Laminated Fir Oar Shaft
Our laminated fir oar shafts are built by bonding layers of Douglas fir into a single, engineered shaft for strength, light weight, and consistent performance. This construction improves resistance to warping and twisting while allowing the grain to be oriented for smooth, predictable flex and rebound. The result is an oar shaft that feels lively and responsive, absorbs shock to reduce joint fatigue, and holds up to repeated stress in demanding river conditions.
SquareTop Oar Construction
SquareTop Oar Construction features an oversized, squared shaft profile at the handle that acts as a built-in counterbalance. This design improves swing weight and flotation without adding heavy oar handles, resulting in smoother recovery, better control, and reduced fatigue. The SquareTop also increases stiffness at the grip while preserving natural flex through the shaft, delivering efficient power transfer with a balanced, responsive feel on the water.
X-Weave Shaft Reinforcement
X-Weave Shaft Reinforcement uses a fiberglass wrap with carbon fibers woven in an X-pattern to strengthen the wood shaft. It adds stiffness and rebound for a more efficient stroke, without feeling harsh on your joints. The result is a more durable oar that keeps the natural flex, feel, and visible beauty of the wood.
DyneLite Blade Construction
DyneLite construction consists of carbon fiber applied over a wood core, creating an oar blade that is exceptionally light, stiff, and highly durable. Proven in whitewater, it delivers powerful strokes with reliable strength in demanding conditions.
Dynel & Kevlar Pro-Tip Protection
The Pro-Tip adds Kevlar and Dynel protection at the edge or tip of the blade, where it takes the most abuse for unmatched abrasion and impact resistance. This tough reinforcement guards against rock hits and hard use while extending blade life and maintaining reliable performance over time.
Marine-Grade Spar Varnish
A premium marine-grade spar varnish finish seals against moisture and UV rays while bringing out the natural wood grain and craftsmanship Sawyer is known for.
