Author: Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW

I represent Sawyer Paddles and Oars in MT, WA, and the Northern US and responsible for water sports industry (fly fishing, white water rafting, SUP, canoe/IK) sales and existing vendor relationships, new business development, dealer clinics, sales training, customer service, and representing the Sawyer brand at trade shows.

Sawyer Guide Night – Gold Hill, OR

Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW April 7, 2018

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Join your friends and fellow river rats for a evening of tales, ales, and sales – Sawyer style!

Professional Water Sports Program registration with additional discounts, in-house discounts on Hala SUP, AIRE boats, and River Rat Dry Boxes.

Friday, May 4th from 6 pm to 9 pm, at Sawyer Station in Gold Hill, Oregon.

Sawyer Artisan Series Oars

Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW March 19, 2018

Oars as art? Protecting wild salmon, steelhead, and the healthy rivers systems they depend on? Yes, I’m in. The unique partnership between Sawyer, Save Our Wild Salmon, Link Jackson Art, Landscape Photography and Water Colors, and Ty Hallock Art has resulted in “performance art” if you will, by combining the need to protect our natural resources and the love of paddling and rowing.

I’ve known Link for a number of years, and his commitment to conservation is long-rooted in his upbringing. Ty has followed a similar path as well, with strong ties to the land and conservation issues growing up in the western United States. Both have demonstrated their passion for protecting our natural resources via conservation efforts, the love of wild places, and the rivers we call home.

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The Sawyer Artisan Oar is our very popular Square Top Oar with a carbon fiber X-Weave fiberglass shaft reinforcement. Feature prints of fish species from artists around the country passionate about fisheries and fishing art. “The Steelhead” is designed by Link Jackson and “The Brown Trout” by Ty Hallock. These oars showcase Sawyer’s and each artist’s ability to create rugged yet highly functional art.

I’m excited that Saywer Paddles and Oars has partnered with SOS, Link, and Ty to bring attention to the issues surrounding our natural resources, and I personally own a set of the Steelhead SquareTop oars (well, three – my spare oar is also one) in the Shoal Cut blade are my choice. Perfect for shallow, freestone rivers that I guide and float in the west, but also highly effective at Class III-IV white water – like the MF Salmon and Selway.

Consider a pair (or three with a spare) and support artists who support conservation and the protection of our natural resources.

Derek

Middle Fork of the Salmon, ID

Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW March 16, 2018

Permit season. Not the line-reeling salt water version of a Siamese Tiger, but the nervous anticipation of the Four Rivers Lottery for multi-day trips through millions of acres of publicly-owned wilderness. It’s the kind of thing that hopeful river runners dream of, and once you land one of these coveted permits, the kind of thing that river runners have to hold close to their chest; not because they’re greedy, but because it is indeed like winning the lottery, and everyone becomes your best friend and wants an invite.

There’s a lot of preparation that goes into a trip like this; it’s committing, both in gear, risk, and in keeping everyone happy for as long as you can. Great weather helps, great company is the trip leader’s responsibility. Group dynamic is paramount. Set the tone early, everyone has responsibilities, no-one is above cleaning the groover or doing dishes. Groover? Yes, the polite name for using a Leave-No-Trace toilet in the wilderness. The Three P’s – privacy, proximity, and panorama. Where you do number two is part of the experience.

This was my first run on the MF, and it was an amazing trip. By the way, did you get a permit for this year? We’re friends, right?

Boundary Creek

The Slide

River Friends

Camping on the beach

Running Class III-IV

River Beauty

The Turn

The Feel Of Water

Sawyer Paddles and Oars - PNW March 15, 2018

A week ago, I was covered in sawdust, industrial-strength adhesives and varnishes, using power tools, wearing ear, eye, and breathing protection. Why? To understand the process by which hand-crafted oars for drift boats, rafts, kayaks, SUP’s, and canoes are made. Sawyer Paddles and Oars, since 1967, has been at it in Oregon for 50 years.

From raw materials, craftsmen cut and shape Ash and Douglas Fir (with other proprietary materials) to make the tools that those that make their lives (and fun!) on the water depend upon. I’ve used Sawyer Oars on my Streamtech Boats for many years now, and the magic of the products came to light when I got to actually make them myself.

I’ve always been a believer that the right combinations of people, services/goods, reliable products, and purpose-built tools are of great value. Put them in the right order, and magic happens. At Sawyer, an employee-owned company supporting families and river rats everywhere, there are great people. They hand-make great products that are purpose built.

All the reasons I needed to join the team, and with this we start a journey together in discovering The Feel Of Water.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton