Interesting. I own and have owned 4 Scadden boats and have always considered the quality to be top drawer. When I bought my first, a framed pontoon (Madison River), I was able to directly compare it to several other makes and models and, in my opinion, there was no comparison in design, quality or finish level. My thought would be if someone tore his oar lock off and busted his oar, he either tried a section of river that was way beyond his ability, or abused the equipment. The oar lock on these boats is the same as that on a Water Master, Water Strider, Abel Travel Craft and my Wilderness Access, and I and my friends have never had any difficulty on a variety of fairly narly water, and I have heard of none. Yup, operator error in my view, which can happen in any boat. It's why you wear a life vest on a river. It's why drift boats carry a spare oar. Confession time. One time, I took my Scadden framed boat out for some fishing. Luckily, it was on a lake, and I was within a quarter mile of the launch point when it happened. I went to row and my right side oar lifted up, pulling the oar lock with it. About 6inches up, the oar lock, which had come out of the mounting, fell into about 30 ft of very cold , dark water. Some dumbass (me) had not bothered to check to see that the retaining ring was present on the oar lock. Dave's fault? No way. I have seen other toons have the same thing happen, and I have seen frames come apart mine never did). Things happen. Bottom line: Always check your equipment at the start of the day (does not take very long), know your equipment and how to use it, and know the water you are floating. If it is new water, or has changed, carry a 50 or 100' line and line thru stretches that are beyond you ability.
