Oar Storage

Picked up a 30" wooden oar for a couple of bucks at a garage sale. Any thoughts on where and how to store it on my minifish?
P1090139.jpg
 
FYI that is a paddle, not an oar. I’ve never needed one on a sailboat but you could probably shock cord it to the boom behind the mast.
 
That's a very handy size of paddle. Lucky you—to get it for $2! :cool: I had one, but failed to retrieve it after a capsize. :(

I put a deep notch in the grip, and jammed it between the boom and the daggerboard. (Sheeting-in with the main to tension the paddle). In a light (but steady) wind, it kept some shape to the sail, and was able to simply steer a course. (A $2 "whisker-pole")!

On my Sunfish, storage was simply to push it between the taught halyard and stationary mast. It always "fell right to hand". :)
 
FYI that is a paddle, not an oar. I’ve never needed one on a sailboat but you could probably shock cord it to the boom behind the mast.
Reading Moby Dick and oar must have been stuck in my brain :confused: . I knew it was optional, but couldn't pass up a bargain, and being in Iowa, who know how steady the wind. Never thought of strapping it to the boom, I guess that's the benefit of being part of this community. Speaking of bargains, a free JY Sailboat keeps popping up in my Facebook Market feed. If you're in the Des Moine area might be worth looking at. Thanks.
 
FWIW and I'm sure most folk know, the daggerboard can be used as a paddle.

Paddling Sunfish.png


But having a small paddle handy comes in handy on light wind days to get out of a dead wind spot close to shore or through a slow tack. We are trying out a small cricket bat size paddle we made, called it a "crickle." The paddle end has a Greenland style double paddle shape, and we hope to make one a small enough size that it just rides in the cockpit, mostly out of the way.

IMG_7970.JPG


The crickle rode right next to the toe rails on the Sailfish, but it really could use a retaining line.


On ZIP the Crickle stows neatly in the bulkhead lightening hole...so you could just cut a hole in the Minifish bulkhead... :)

Screen Shot 2020-10-23 at 6.59.06 AM.png


For a paddle on a Minifish I wonder if you could cut a bungee the right length, attach one end to the daggerboard retaining line eyestrap and other end attached to the paddle handle, then put the paddle between the mast and the halyard, laid flat so that the top wide part of the paddle blade snugs against the mast and halyard? A tug on the line could free up the paddle. Wouldn't want the bungee too tight though :)
 
Picked up a 30" wooden oar for a couple of bucks at a garage sale. Any thoughts on where and how to store it on my minifish? View attachment 42255

I like the idea of having some sort of paddle with you on your boat. It just makes sense. There are too many times when the wind is not cooperating and you are in a tight spot. Some of the lakes I sail in have a protected cove where the boat launch is and the wind is completely unpredictable and sometimes nonexistent requiring paddling for several hundred yards and sometimes up to a quarter of a mile before I have reliable wind.

So here are some of the options that I use and have seen others use to secure a paddle on the boat:

1. My favorite is this swim paddle that I can strap to either hand. I toss one in the cubby in my Sunfish. On a minifish, you could attach it to the daggerboard bungee with a carabiner so it doesn’t get lost. An alternative might be to glue Velcro to the swim paddle and tack it to the splash guard when not in use.

2. Prior to using the swim paddle, I used this telescoping paddle that just barely fits inside of the sunfish cubby. I secure it to the boat with a 2mm bungee. I glued a stainless steel U-bolt to the inside of the cubby and I attach the paddle bungee with a carabiner to the U bolt so the paddle doesn’t get lost if I flip. Of course, in the mini fish, you don’t have a cubby, so I think the first preference would be the swim paddle.

3. Matt, (the Adventures In Reach you tuber) has some bungees attached to the front of his sunfish and he slides his two piece kayak paddle to the deck of the boat using that. That is overkill for me sailing and small legs. However Matt goes on long trips with It’s Sunfish and secure is an amazing amount of kit camping kit to his Sunfish and if the wind totally dies, can use the same fish as a standing surfboard where the longer kayak paddle would be very effective. Regardless, bungees to the front of the many fish deck or an option to secure a paddle, especially the non-telescoping wooden one that you purchased for two dollars. it’s Sunfish and secures an amazing amount of kit camping kit to his son fish and if the wind totally dies, can use the same fish as a standing surfboard where the longer kayak paddle would be very effective. Regardless, bungees to the front of the mini fish deck or an option to secure a paddle, especially the non-telescoping wooden one that you purchased for two dollars. (great find, BTW).

Those are my suggestions, for what they’re worth.

Links to supporting information:

Adventures in reach video showing Matt’s paddle.

Swim paddles on Amazon: Amazon.com : Speedo Nemesis Contour Paddle : Sports & Outdoors

Telescoping paddle on Amazon: Amazon.com: Emergency 20-inch to 42-inch Telescoping Paddle, Orange: Sports & Outdoors

Stainless steel U-bolts Amazon.com: Red Hound Auto 4 Stainless Steel 316 6mm Square Eye Plates 1/4 Inches Marine SS Pad Boat Rigging: Automotive
 
FWIW and I'm sure most folk know, the daggerboard can be used as a paddle.

View attachment 42268

But having a small paddle handy comes in handy on light wind days to get out of a dead wind spot close to shore or through a slow tack. We are trying out a small cricket bat size paddle we made, called it a "crickle." The paddle end has a Greenland style double paddle shape, and we hope to make one a small enough size that it just rides in the cockpit, mostly out of the way.

View attachment 42269

The crickle rode right next to the toe rails on the Sailfish, but it really could use a retaining line.


On ZIP the Crickle stows neatly in the bulkhead lightening hole...so you could just cut a hole in the Minifish bulkhead... :)

View attachment 42270

For a paddle on a Minifish I wonder if you could cut a bungee the right length, attach one end to the daggerboard retaining line eyestrap and other end attached to the paddle handle, then put the paddle between the mast and the halyard, laid flat so that the top wide part of the paddle blade snugs against the mast and halyard? A tug on the line could free up the paddle. Wouldn't want the bungee too tight though :)
I love the seventies photos, I'm tempted to color print and hang it up in my garage ;) A crickle, well ain't that the word. I love that that "paddle end has a Greenland style double paddle shape" I'm definitely going to look that up. I'm not sure if I'm going to drill a whole in my bulkhead, but who know she may leak in which case a hole might be necessary. I'm not familiar enough with sailing to visualize you comments on storing the oar to the dagger board, but it will be a good exercise in nautical thinking to work it out. :)
 
I like the idea of having some sort of paddle with you on your boat. It just makes sense. There are too many times when the wind is not cooperating and you are in a tight spot. Some of the lakes I sail in have a protected cove where the boat launch is and the wind is completely unpredictable and sometimes nonexistent requiring paddling for several hundred yards and sometimes up to a quarter of a mile before I have reliable wind.

So here are some of the options that I use and have seen others use to secure a paddle on the boat:

1. My favorite is this swim paddle that I can strap to either hand. I toss one in the cubby in my Sunfish. On a minifish, you could attach it to the daggerboard bungee with a carabiner so it doesn’t get lost. An alternative might be to glue Velcro to the swim paddle and tack it to the splash guard when not in use.

2. Prior to using the swim paddle, I used this telescoping paddle that just barely fits inside of the sunfish cubby. I secure it to the boat with a 2mm bungee. I glued a stainless steel U-bolt to the inside of the cubby and I attach the paddle bungee with a carabiner to the U bolt so the paddle doesn’t get lost if I flip. Of course, in the mini fish, you don’t have a cubby, so I think the first preference would be the swim paddle.

3. Matt, (the Adventures In Reach you tuber) has some bungees attached to the front of his sunfish and he slides his two piece kayak paddle to the deck of the boat using that. That is overkill for me sailing and small legs. However Matt goes on long trips with It’s Sunfish and secure is an amazing amount of kit camping kit to his Sunfish and if the wind totally dies, can use the same fish as a standing surfboard where the longer kayak paddle would be very effective. Regardless, bungees to the front of the many fish deck or an option to secure a paddle, especially the non-telescoping wooden one that you purchased for two dollars. it’s Sunfish and secures an amazing amount of kit camping kit to his son fish and if the wind totally dies, can use the same fish as a standing surfboard where the longer kayak paddle would be very effective. Regardless, bungees to the front of the mini fish deck or an option to secure a paddle, especially the non-telescoping wooden one that you purchased for two dollars. (great find, BTW).

Those are my suggestions, for what they’re worth.

Links to supporting information:

Adventures in reach video showing Matt’s paddle.

Swim paddles on Amazon: Amazon.com : Speedo Nemesis Contour Paddle : Sports & Outdoors

Telescoping paddle on Amazon: Amazon.com: Emergency 20-inch to 42-inch Telescoping Paddle, Orange: Sports & Outdoors

Stainless steel U-bolts Amazon.com: Red Hound Auto 4 Stainless Steel 316 6mm Square Eye Plates 1/4 Inches Marine SS Pad Boat Rigging: Automotive
Thanks for the thoughts. I was also thinking bungee cords attached to the front, though with the phenomenal epoxies associated with marine repair, glueing a stainless steel eye or just a nylon bolt against the bulkhead opens up all sorts of storage solutions. Got to watch the video, I've heard that Isle Royale state part is fantastic and the lodge is really nice.
 
That's a very handy size of paddle. Lucky you—to get it for $2! :cool: I had one, but failed to retrieve it after a capsize. :(

I put a deep notch in the grip, and jammed it between the boom and the daggerboard. (Sheeting-in with the main to tension the paddle). In a light (but steady) wind, it kept some shape to the sail, and was able to simply steer a course. (A $2 "whisker-pole")!

On my Sunfish, storage was simply to push it between the taught halyard and stationary mast. It always "fell right to hand". :)
Wow, that's da bomb solution. If I do pull it off, I'll have to post a photo, hopefully beverage in hand.:D
 
Haha, that's funneh... I've known a few cheap oars in my time, LOL. :rolleyes:

Next thing ya know, you're at the STD clinic... :confused:

Damn, Signal Charlie, those pics in your post look like 'Sunfish porn!!!' ;)

If there IS such a thing... oh, yeah, I can't remember how many times I've used the daggerboard as a paddle after the wind died, my landing site a few hundred meters away. Usually around sunset, so at least the slog was scenic... :cool:
 
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