I noticed the oars on the Maxxon are held up what looks to be about 5” from the mount. This looks like it will create a lot of torque/twisting compared to the watermaster which looks like the oars are less than 2” from the surface of the raft. Seems like a failure point.
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Man, good eye - I had an oarlock failure on my Maxxon just as you alluded to.
I think I have the model just prior to the Widgeon? That model name is not familiar to me, but what I see in your screen cap looks identical.
As you suggest, the pvc is durable - no holes so far despite lots of use and rough handling. And it has survived my shitty, amateurish rowing on the Yakima, John Day, and Skagit, not to mention plenty of stillwater and a few bay bobs in the Deep South sound.
It was one of those south sound trips during which the oarlock failed. I happened to be in a spot with a bit of tide flow, so it was a little hairy, but it was a calm day and worst case I would have just had to do a walk of shame back over some private property.
There’s a plastic cylinder that fits longitudinally inside the oarlock assembly - it passes through the transversely moving piece that the oars fit onto (and holds them 5”) above the frame. The screws visible in your photo punch into that plastic cylinder and - in theory - hold it in place.
I think maybe they used too short of screws in mine or didn’t have them punched in far enough, because unbeknownst to me the plastic cylinder tore loose of them, was rotating each time I pulled the oar, and eventually twisted and torqued its way all the way out the back of the oarlock assembly. So, suddenly my oar pulled completely free.
The plastic cylinder wouldn’t stay put as I pushed in back through, at least until I kinda wedged it in there precariously with the business end of my pliers. I was able to gently row back to the launch from there.
If this had happened on the wrong part of a river, it could have been ugly. Maxxon did send me a replacement rod and replacement screws.
@clarkman also kindly sent me a replacement rod or two just in case as he had extra and read my tale of woe on the old forum (I guess I watermaster has a similar design).
I still like the raft and so far would recommend it. Maxxon claimed they’d never had anyone else report the issue - I dunno about that. Just listen to weird noises from your oarlock - if I’d been watching for it I’d have seen it.
maxxoninflatableboats.com
