Does anyone know of a good Stong competition oar lock...

[MITCHELL]

That won't come loose......I thought I had to much gear fishing lajolla in my canoe cause I swamped with a foot of water in my canoe trying to get out through surf not once but twice thats 2ft of water I had to deal with having both bilge pumps on before i launched helped after the second attempt I called it a day and went to mission bay to figure out what was going on....every time I paddled in surf I would not move....I was getting a half stroke on one side the oar was buckling on one side and the paddle was slicing the water as a result I could not keep it straight i flipped sideway filling up with water.I looked on line at oar locks but was unsure if I can't find what I'm looking for I might have to make them....sorry for the run on sentences English was not one of my better subjects....your input would highly be appreciated
It's nice to no I won't sink having flotation on all 4 sides after having half a dozen successful launch at lajolla

[YakDout]

Can you drill them and put a pin through it? Or do you think that would compromise its structural integrity too much?

[MITCHELL]

But you have too it a must the paddle will spin i started with Coleman paddle but they bent and ready to snap....the problem is where the bottom oar clamp bolt pivots back and forth and the plastic sleeve on the clamp pin wears in the oar lock flexing cause slicing in the paddle stroke everything has to be locked in so you don't swamp ....

[taggermike]

You may be the only rower on this board of paddlers and peddlers. Are there ocean rowing sights? Mike

[MITCHELL]

[Mr. NiceGuy]

I've found "OK" oar locks on Amazon after busting an oar lock rowing my dinghy. They are not substantial.

I think the solution could be a slice of steel pipe welded to the head of a bolt with a pin or clip in the bottom. I would smooth the sharp edges with a file or die grinder.
Stainless steel would be nice. It will polish nicely and hold up to the elements.

K Surplus in National City is a good place to scrounge for materials.
http://www.ksurplus.com/

EDIT: I was at K Surplus about a week ago and noticed some large shackles that could be cut down to shape:
http://www.ksurplus.com/ties_cables_chains.html

The shackles I saw were "jumbo" size, meaning oar size ... maybe from the ship yards. Not what they have on their website list.
Maybe the shackle pins could be ground down flush to make the oar lock pin, already with a hole at the end for a retaining clip.