We have had an enquiry from Heather Oaten
I am thinking of getting some Magik gates but I am a bit concerned about the wear on my Dreher sculls. Currently the collars are wearing smooth where they sit in the gates, obviously I have checked the gates are not too tight! Will the Magik gates perpetuate the wear and is there anything I can do to stop the wear? I have not noticed wear to the same extent with Concept II sculls but I would rather use the Drehers. Thanks, Heather
My reply to her question was
The wear on the sleeve is completely normal. Most scullers expect to have to re-sleeve every 1-2 years particularly if they use the sculls a lot (as you do).
Concept 2 make their sleeves from similar material to us and theirs will wear in a similar way. Croker, do not use the same material and customers report that their sleeves wear noticeably faster under normal use than the other two brands.
Regarding the Magik Gates, I have had a good look at the Cambridge University Boat Club ones which are now over a year old and they row their boats about 8 times a week for 7 months of the year. Speaking to their coaches, they say that the gates themselves did wear a bit when they were first installed BUT that after that time the wear on the gates and collars has not progressed and is now what they would call 'normal' i.e. the same as using other gates.
My view is that the tension arm putting pressure onto the sleeve creates the initial wear in a slightly different pattern than for other gates but that there is no need for you to be concerned that you'll be "wearing out" your lovely Drehers by installing Magik gates.
Can anyone help Heather with their own experience of using black collars (the large ones) or white collars (the small old design one) with MK1 oarlocks?
