Sawyer Paddles and Oars

Sawyer Paddles and Oars Sawyer offers a full line of paddles and oars with unsurpassed function, performance and beauty. We If you can dream it, we can build it.

Sawyer's Roots

After a legendary canoe racing career, which includes being a 10 time AuSable River Canoe Marathon Champion (and recently being inducted into the Canoe Racing Hall of Fame), Ralph Sawyer began building paddles and oars. In 1967, he established Sawyer Paddles and Oars in the small town of Rogue River, Oregon, where he quickly fell in love with whitewater rafting and began producing

whitewater oars. Sawyer oars were soon found in the hands of river outfitters all over North America with a reputation for quality, performance, value and beauty. Ralph drove the use of Douglas fir, for its high strength to weight ration and flex in combination with Ponderosa Pine and Sawyer’s signature Walnut racing stripes. His use of these woods in combination with fiberglass popularized the concept of composite paddles. Ralph is now retired and enjoys exploring the Puget Sound and Alaskan waterways from his home, an ocean faring catamaran, with his wife Bobby. Innovations

Bruce Bergstrom took the helm in 1987 and propelled the company’s innovation and reputation of durability. Most noted was the introduction of the Sawyer SquareTop Oar matched with another of his innovations, the Cobra Oar Lock. This combination is a favorite among drift boat fisherman and whitewater rafters, which may row a thousand strokes per mile positioning for the perfect cast or negotiating heavy whitewater. The two innovations paired together make for the highest performing whitewater oar and oarlock system in the world. Bruce also acquired chief rival Smoker Oars & Paddles in 1992. The acquisition set up Sawyer to be the premier paddle & oar maker in the USA, complete with a durable line of composite oars balanced by a line of legendary solid ash wood oars for extreme conditions. Bruce was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award by the American Outdoors Association for his contributions to our industry. Bruce with his innovations, SquareTop Oars, Cobra Oar Locks and Smoker Oars

Bruce Bergstrom displaying SquareTop Oars, Cobra Oar Locks and Smoker Oars. Our Future

This future includes continuing to innovate and evolve our product line so you can experience a clear connection to water. We have a great team of craftspeople and get great satisfaction in manufacturing the best paddles and oars in house. If you are inspired to create a product that you do not see in our line, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for choosing Sawyer!

08/19/2026

Your heart rate entering a rapid: 180. Your face at the takeout: all smiles.

There's no feeling like it. The current grabs the boat, your brain switches to full survival mode, and every stroke suddenly matters a whole lot. Ten seconds of pure chaos, then you're through, whooping like you just won something.

Then you immediately look back upstream and go "let's do that again." Every. Single. Time. The river is the only rollercoaster where you're also the engineer, and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way.

08/18/2026

Some rivers you paddle. The Umpqua you experience. 💚

Emerald water, mossy canyon walls, and enough character in every mile to keep you humble. One minute you're floating along admiring the scenery, the next the river reminds you who's in charge. That's the Umpqua for you. Beautiful, moody, and absolutely worth every mile of the drive.

Oregon really said "here, have the prettiest water in the country" and we haven't recovered since.

Some of the best conversations don't happen in a studio. They happen around campfires, on riverbanks, at boat ramps, and...
08/13/2026

Some of the best conversations don't happen in a studio. They happen around campfires, on riverbanks, at boat ramps, and during long days on the water.

That's exactly why we started the Sawyer On Water Podcast.

If you're in California, Oregon, Washington, or passing through Southern Oregon on the I-5 corridor and have a story worth sharing, we'd love to connect. Shoot us a DM and let's talk. 2026 guest spots are filling now.

08/12/2026

Little chat with Oregon Rafting Team on their way to Nationals on the American River. United States Rafting Association, follow these teams

08/12/2026

Nobody on a river trip has ever said ""everything went according to plan"" and meant it. 🛶

Hour 1: We are outdoorsmen. We are one with nature.
Hour 2: Steve dropped his sunglasses in a Class III and briefly considered going after them.
Hour 3: The sandwiches are wet. All of them. Nobody knows how.
Hour 4: Best. Day. Ever.

The river giveth adventure and the river taketh your snacks. Worth it every time.

08/11/2026

The river doesn't care how confident you are. 🌊

Water safety education isn't the boring part before the fun starts: it's what keeps you coming back season after season. Knowing how to read a rapid, what to do in a swim, how to wear a PFD right, and when to say ""not today"" are skills that save lives every single year. Whether you're brand new or decades deep, there's always more to learn, and the best boaters we know are the ones who never stop taking safety seriously.

Learn it. Practice it. Pass it on.

This clip is from Episode 15 of our Sawyer On Water Podcast. Stream it anywhere you listen to music or podcasts. We're also looking for guests for our 2026 episodes. Shoot us a DM if you're interested in being featured.

Since 1967, every Sawyer paddle and oar has been shaped by actual human hands in Oregon.That's nearly 60 years of sawdus...
08/10/2026

Since 1967, every Sawyer paddle and oar has been shaped by actual human hands in Oregon.

That's nearly 60 years of sawdust, craftsmanship, and people who genuinely care whether your blade feels right in the water. No shortcuts, no mystery factories, just skilled builders doing it the way Ralph did it, but with a few more decades of know-how baked in.

Almost 60 years old and still handmade. Some things just don't need to change.

08/05/2026

"It'll be a chill float," we said. Famous last words.

Every river trip starts with a plan and ends with a story. Somewhere in between, someone loses a sandal, the ""waterproof"" bag proves otherwise, and the snack situation becomes a full-blown negotiation. And yet? Best day ever. Every single time.

The river doesn't promise you comfort. It promises you an adventure. Big difference. See you out there.

08/04/2026

Nobody figures out the river alone.

Every seasoned boater was once the new kid at the put-in, watching, asking questions, and learning from the folks who'd already logged a thousand miles. That's how this community works. If you're just getting out on the water, find the people with gray in their beards and stories in their dry bags, they've made the mistakes so you don't have to, and most of them are more than happy to pass it on.

The water teaches, but mentors translate.

This clip is from Episode 12 of our Sawyer On Water Podcast. Stream it anywhere you listen to music or podcasts. We're also looking for guests for our 2026 episodes. Shoot us a DM if you're interested in being featured.

08/03/2026

That weirdly peaceful moment right before the rapid? Yeah, we live for that.

The water goes flat, the roar gets louder downstream, and suddenly you're having a very honest conversation with yourself about your life choices. Deep breath. Last look. Grip the paddle a little tighter than you'll ever admit. Then send it.

The calm before the chaos is half the fun. The other half is pretending you meant to take that line.

Address

404 2nd Avenue
Gold Hill, OR
97525

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(541) 535-3606

Website

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