what we were building was radical @ the time, and may still be.
The design of the blades was essentialy flat on one side, and had a more complicated profile on the back
the shaft was an I beam made from strait grained spruce, capped with ash, and then capped again in beach through the oar locks, and we snuck carbon fibre between the spruce and ash.
the longest oars were 18', and it was possible to put a handle under the bench, and a shop stand under the oar lock and go out and bounce up and down on the blades 15' out from the shop stand
we also made many oars for the international dorry races, which is regulated to "what could have been
built useing traditional materials and methods"
which ours were, cept for the cfd bieng done at mit
we also made paddles, and handles, but paddles do better now, in strait carbon, but oars need flex, and work as a spring
we had a couple of raceing skiffs at the shop and those sure are a hoot
