Bass Boat Paddles Or Oar's?

[eyedabassman]

Do you carry oars or paddles in your bass boat?  I have a Triton and I was thinking if my big motor and my trolling motor did not work how would I get back in!  What size do i need and do I get the wide paddle or the narrow one ? :-[ :-/

[BassnMan Mike]

Out here in CA I believe all boats are required to have one as part of their safety equipment along with a PDF for everyone on board, a throw cushion and a sounding device

[bass or bass ?]

I have 1 paddle and 1 old oar from my old aluminum boat in my boat.     Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

[Hot Rod]

I have a wide 6' paddle in my 18' 6" Strat.  I rigged up some velcro so it is stowed under the lid and out of the way in the battery compartment.  

I use it mostly for pushing off from shore if I have had the boat beached.

I couldn't imagine using it to try to get back to the ramp if both motors where to go though, especially on a day like today when the winds gusting to 40+ mph  

[Long Mike]

I have a three foot paddle in my Tracker.  It's completely useless, but the law says I have to have a paddle.

[Fishing Rhino]

A boater's best friend may be electronics.

Cell phone, CB, VHF radio can all be used to summon assistance.

Don't know what type most folks use on bass boats.  But, were I to fish larger waters where I was dependent upon something other than oars or paddles to get around, I'd be sure to have one, or all of them.

Both the CB and VHF radios have "hailing" frequencies which most boaters monitor.  

Unless you're close to the ramp, have a helping current or tail wind, paddling something like a bass boat is an exercise in futility.

Set the anchor to maintain position, and call for help.

Oars are generally more cumbersome and awkward to use sans oarlocks than a paddle.  Get a paddle that satisfies your laws and regs, but can also be used to fend the boat off rocks, buoys, etc.

[Lipped M]

Heres something that might help you out.Hope link works,not to comfuser savvy.http://bendingbranches.com/wave-hound.php

[Nick B]

Most states have minimum equipment such as life jackets, fire extinguisher, oar, horn etc.

[Wayne P.]

I cannot find any reference in recent years where a oar/paddle is required to be on a power boat especially on a bass boat with a gas motor and an electric motor. Can any of you find where that requirement is stated as a law or even a Coast Guard recommendation?

Many years ago there was requrement for a "secondary means of propulsion", which usually ment a paddle, for a mechanically driven boat.

[fivesixone]

I cannot find any reference in recent years where a oar/paddle is required to be on a power boat especially on a bass boat with a gas motor and an electric motor. Can any of you find where that requirement is stated as a law or even a Coast Guard recommendation?

Many years ago there was requrement for a "secondary means of propulsion", which usually ment a paddle, for a mechanically driven boat.

Yeah, I would look into that. What good is a little paddle on a bass boat?? :-?

[Nick B]

I remember them talking about in the boater safety course I took, maybe not mandatory but highly recommended

[TommyBass]

I have one of these little guys in one of my compartments.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52474____SearchResults

I think it used to be a law but I can't find anything about it anymore. I never use it but you never know I guess.  And like they said, to paddle any sort of bass boat with any size would be crazy unless you were fairly close and there was no wind, but even then, crazy.

[CGH]

Get yourself either the Paddles Or Oar's, find someplace on your rig to store, hide said Paddles Or Oar's. Fine, buy a small TM that you can also store/hide on your boat and if you main Motor and your Main Trolling Motor fail you will have both and electrical back and and a manual back up.

Am I pulling you leg with this reply, NO. When I go out in either of my boats besides the canoe I have a small 25# thrust TM store on board alone with a small 12volt battery that will run the 25 on high for about 25 to 30 minutes.

Over reacting, maybe but it only took one time for me to be stranded that I wished to never be stranded again!  I Got back to the bank buy repeated throwing a 10 lb anchor out in the water and dragging the dead boat until I was back at the shore.

[IDbasser]

I have one of these little guys in one of my compartments.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52474____SearchResults

I think it used to be a law but I can't find anything about it anymore. I never use it but you never know I guess. And like they said, to paddle any sort of bass boat with any size would be crazy unless you were fairly close and there was no wind, but even then, crazy.

I have the same thing.

[Jordanp]

I live in California and my dad is old school and says we must keep a paddle in our bass boat. But I can’t find any law or regulation that states that now ? Is this true ? 

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Jordanp said:

I live in California and my dad is old school and says we must keep a paddle in our bass boat. But I can’t find any law or regulation that states that now ? Is this true ? 

No law but you’d be silly not to have one 

[Susky River Rat]

In PA it is not required by law.

[airshot]

The real answer is...are you actually going to use the paddle or oars ??  Paddles are difficult at best unless you have a canoe.  If you intend to actually use them then oars are far easier to use !!  Also depends on boat size, some are just to big or heavy to use either one!!   When I took the boaters safety course with my grandkids, the paddle subject came up.  The instructor said the paddle on larger boats was something to attach your red distress flag to...makes it easier to wave !!  lol.....

Some years back some friends put on a canoe race, my son and I added oar locks to my canoe.  Rules were two people and two paddles maximum.  Needless to say the oars blew the paddles away,  when one guy got tired, the other took over.  Great fun and you can make a canoe really fly with oars !!

[ElGuapo928]

I’ve used my paddle a few times to push off the bank, but that’s about it.

[TnRiver46]

I used mine to get back to the ramp when the motor didn’t start, that’s why you keep one. no brainer 

[Jig Man]

It won’t matter what paddle you get.  It will be next to worthless trying to move that boat very far.  Store the number of friends, neighbors or marinas if those on your part of the lake have regular hours and rat hole a C note to cover towing.

[Bankc]

4 hours ago, Jordanp said:

I live in California and my dad is old school and says we must keep a paddle in our bass boat. But I can’t find any law or regulation that states that now ? Is this true ? 

I won't claim this as 100% fact, but from what saw when I looked it up, it does not seem that it is currently required.  

 

My guess is that either they changed the law, or they never were laws to begin with, but everyone just assumed.  Back before the internet, to look up a law just about required hiring a lawyer.  At the very least, it meant placing a few phone calls to the appropriate government official.  

 

Plus, back in the day, most motorboats were smaller and a lot lighter than they are today.  So you actually could paddle them in an emergency.  So maybe they got rid of the laws because for most people today, if your motor breaks, your cell phone and a tow rope is your best emergency backup plan.  

[TnRiver46]

Having a paddle is better than being dead in the water 100% of the time. I can move my 18.5 foot boat just fine with a paddle. There’s even a famous saying about it, come on people 

[A-Jay]

Paddles / oars in a full size Bass Boat 

was a moot point 14 years ago when the OP came up.

And it's still a moot point today.

 

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

I’ve always carried one but have never used it.   I’m guessing I could paddle my bass boat at about 1/2 mile per hour for 100 yards before exhaustion set in.