Simple Question, can anyone recommend an actual good oar brand?  I have a jon boat I row on a small pond, and first set of Caviness wood oars lasted about 20 years.  I bought one new Caviness to replace one of the old that cracked, and it didn't last a full year before it split on both sides of the business end and ended up a toothpick.

 

What do you guys use or recommend?  I'm thinking about going aluminum to not worry about the wood rotting out like I've been having problems with.

 

Thanks in advance!

Sawyer makes top of the line oars. Very popular with the guides who row drift boats for a living. Top of the line prices too. I’ve got a set on my jon boat.

X2 for Sawyer.  I'm not really an oar expert, but almost every raft and cataraft I've encountered fishing on the river has Sawyers.  If it's just durability you're looking for, both Carslile and Caviness make an aluminum handled, plastic bladed paddles.  They're sure to be heavy, if you're actually going anywhere, though.