The Sweep - A Short Film from OARS

Learn more at www.oars.com/b...
Sweep boats are a traditional craft used by OARS and other outfitters on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River to transport gear downriver, typically on 6-day trips from mid-June through August depending on water levels.
Piloted by a single captain from a standing position, sweep boats are massive inflatable crafts, ranging from 22- to 26-feet long with tubes reaching 30 inches in diameter. Unlike other oar-rigged boats, the sweep’s oars-called sweeps-are positioned at the bow and stern. Because of the sweeps’ positions, they don’t propel the boat through the water, but instead only turn the boat from side-to-side, changing its angle to skirt obstacles, depending on the river’s flow to move it downstream.
The sweep boat isn’t a modern invention. In the 1870s and 80s flat-bottomed, wooden boats, called scows, were built to transfer mining equipment and lumber downriver. It began with a 39-mile trip from Salmon, Idaho, to the mines in Shoup, Idaho. Once the scow reached Shoup, the entire boat was dismantled and sold as lumber.
Today, sweep boats work well on the Middle Fork due to the constant gradient of the river, which drops close to 3,000 feet over the course of 100 miles. Sweep boats can carry a large gear load and at the same time navigate the boulder-choked Middle Fork.
Sweep boats are part of the history, excitement and challenge of running a wild wilderness river like the Middle Fork of the Salmon.
Starring: Ned Perry
Music:
Western Runners - "Glass Prisms"
Jerad Mees & The Grown Children - "W.W.J.B.D"
O.A.R.S. Dories, Inc. is operated under special use permit with the Salmon-Challis National Forest. OARS is an equal opportunity provider.
You might also like our other short films. Check out:
Martin’s Boat - • Martin's Boat - A Film...
Water Is For Fighting - Idaho's Salmon River: • Water Is For Fighting ...
Return From Desolation: • Return From Desolation...

[@waltblackadar4690]

Ran the sweep boat with a guide, I believe his name was Cody, 20+ years ago with OARS down the Middle Fork. Because you were ahead of the other boats and the noise was to a minimum the wildlife was out everywhere. Cody was a river historian and I learned a lot about the river. When we got to camp I helped him unload and set up the camp. We decided to take a short hike and came back just as the other boats were arriving. It was a damn good day.

[@Steveleanr]

Just got off a great trip with Ned and O.A.R.S. from the middle salmon! He's a great leader and guide!!! 6 days!!!!! Crazy fun!!!

[@Garin-BRi]

I'll be a swamper on a sweep boat for the rest of the summer!!!

[@joanmorris710]

Hi Ned take care big aloha hug joani