The APEX52 was introduced at the Jim Joy Conference in December of 2010. This is the newest in the Apex family of sweep blades. We made some sweep sets in the Fall and then tested and provided demonstrations primarily in Europe. The results of the testing were so favorable that we decided to start selling the new blade shape world wide in January of 2011. Call for more information.

In additon in 2011, we have brought back the wood veneer over carbon handle as an option. The wood over carbon design is offered to provide the traditional wood feel with the strength, stiffness and light weight of carbon. Dreher was the first manufacturer to offer this option have brought it back becuase there are stll people that like the feeling of wood, but at about the weight of carbon with either a grip wrap or rubber grip. In addition we have introduced a hybrid version of the Wood and the Row-Wik inboard wrap, which offers the best features of both the wood veneer and Row-Wik.

The APEX55 Blade Shapes for Sweeps were introduced at the 1999 Head-of-the-Charles Regatta. This is the "Next Generation" of blade shapes for both sweep and sculling. These blades have both a smooth front surface, and most importantly, a smooth back surface to provide better hydrodynamic lift. Today the APEX-Sweep is the most popular sweep shape selected.

The theory of a smooth faced blade causing less disturbance to the flow of water over the front face of the blade seemed to us to be in direct contradiction to basic hydrodynamic theory. Potential gains in hydrodynamic lift could be achieved if the back, not the front face of the blade, is free of impediments to the smooth movement of water in the direction of flow. It is not the front, but the back of the blade with its longer curved surface that accelerates the water flow and should provide a lifting force as the blade traverses out to the 90 degree stall position and back again during each stroke. By making the back surface "smooth" with the spine, or shaft attaching ridge parallel to the water flow, the blade would be more efficient and easier to handle.

The APEX blade shape is a significant design improvement. What we have done is to move the attachment spine to the top of the blade on both the front and back parallel to the direction of water flow as the blade traverses out and back from the boat. The spine was changed to a smooth contour and the volume calculated to effect a displacement enough to give the correct buoyancy as well as the right weight and weight distribution which affects the balance point. In addition, the blades can now be made just a hair above the FISA minimum thickness of blades to provide (i.e., of 3 mm thick blade; 2 mm in from the tip) more efficient blade work.

A BB5299 enhanced sweep blade shape design and tooling has been completed in November of 1998. Many of our customers have been used to the BB52 size and wanted that as an option to the BB55, which was released in 1997. Our goal was to design a blade that was meant to be a smaller blade shape then the BB55 with improved features to our previous BB52 and comparable or enhanced performance to our BB55. Similar to the sculling blade changes, the sweep blade changes are subtle. Again, as in the BB2198 sculling blade, our focus was to improve the finish of blades and with only minor changes made to blade curvature and attack angle.

Overall the blade shape changes integrate well into the overall sweep oar design resulting in a sweep oar that is very easy to use and has excellent release characteristics, balance, and tracking through the drive. As with sculling blade described above, we improved blade strength and performance with the new edge design. In addition, a more polished blade finish reduces drag on the blades at the catch and the finish. This is our 2nd most popular blade shape sold and continues to show up on the podium.

Priming/Painting Service: Durham Boat Company, Inc. offers oar purchasers with the option of priming with a flat gray or priming and painting oars with one base color of choice as an option or no priming or painting. We have had a number of customers request this service so we offer either priming only or priming and painting done professionally.

Sweep handles: Sweep handle are offered in two sizes three grip wrap options of the new Row-Wik grip wrap in bright red, royal blue, black or bright yellow. (i.e., an inside wrap only, a full length wrap, and an inboard wrap with an STS rubber grip at the outboard end or choice of full length rubber grips (gray, black, blue or orange) and the wood veneer over carbon (either full lenth or dull wrap of Row-Wik and wood veneer).

Ever since we begin manufacturing Dreher sweep oars in 1991, we only offered the carbon handles. We designed the adjustable sweep oar with the adjustment feature in mind. In so doing we could save about 1 pound per oar from the traditional wood designed oar. Our design includes a shaft with no taper at the point where the constant diameter of the handle mates up the the shaft. Because there is no taper to the shaft along the entire shaft/handle interface, there is no movement or lost energy during the drive.

Our latest grip wrap is the Row-Wik. The Row-Wik easy to wrap and comes in four colors: Red, Royal Blue, Yellow and Black. It is best applied with a spray adhesive. The wrap is gentle on the athletes' hands and has more of a cushion for longer rows. In addition it is good at wicking away moisture in hot or humid weather.

In 2011 we brought back the wood veneer, made of mahogany. In addition we brought out a hybrid Row-Wik (Red, Royal Blue, Black and Yellow inboard wrap with the wood underneath.

Click here for pricing information for Dreher Sweeps

Click here for ordering information for Dreher Sweeps

New APEX52 and APEX55 Sweep Blade (3 cm shorter in Length)

BB52 Blade Shape

Sweep Handle with new Wood Veneer With Red Row-Wik Inboard Handle Wrap

Sweep Handle with new Wood Veneer Over Carbon Handle

Sweep Handle with Row-Wik Grip Wrap

CT Boat Club: Won (Women's 2-, LW4+ and 8+) at'10 USRowing Youth Nationals

APEX Sweeps Used By the "Great Eight" won the '09 HORR