Perko Oarlocks
Perko Oarlocks: Century-Proven Marine Hardware for Rowboats & Tenders
When it comes to small-craft rowing hardware, few names carry the weight of Perko. Since its inception in 1907, Perko has grown into a fifth-generation, American marine manufacturer known for high-quality marine hardware for recreational and commercial boats. That same commitment to quality extends all the way down to their oarlocks — the humble but essential pivot points that make controlled, efficient rowing possible on tenders, dinghies, and small rowboats.
A Legacy Built on Metal Craftsmanship
The Perko story begins in the early 1900s in Brooklyn, N.Y., where Russian immigrant Frederick Perkins started a family tool-and-die-making business in his basement. Over one hundred years later, Perko still produces a variety of products with individual attention to detail and craftsmanship, expanding into a variety of modern manufacturing processes and materials. This deep metallurgical heritage is exactly why boaters trust Perko oarlocks — the brand has been casting, machining, and finishing marine-grade metal hardware longer than most manufacturers have existed.
With nearly complete in-house manufacturing, Perko ensures superior product control and customer satisfaction, and their ISO 9001:2015 certification reflects a dedication to excellence across all operations. Hundreds of thousands of component parts and tens of thousands of high-quality marine hardware pieces are built each year, all of them sourced from American-made raw materials.
Perko's Oarlock Product Lineup
Perko offers a well-rounded selection of rowlock hardware designed for different mounting styles and vessel types. Their lineup includes several distinct product styles recognized throughout the marine industry:
- Ribbed Rowlock Horns (Bronze): Perko's ribbed oarlock horns are cast in plain manganese bronze — a marine alloy prized for its excellent corrosion resistance and strength in saltwater environments. The ribbed profile provides added grip and a classic, traditional look suited to wooden dinghies and classic tenders.
- Round Type Rowlock Horns: A clean, smooth-profile horn design available in multiple sizes, offering a versatile fit for a wide range of small craft.
- Rowlock Sockets: Perko rowlock sockets, including bronze top-mount and side-mount zinc models, provide the secure mounting base that pairs with Perko's horn-style oarlocks, completing a matched, durable rowing hardware system.
- North River Type Rowlock Horns: A specialty profile suited to specific regional boat styles, demonstrating the breadth of Perko's catalog depth even within a single niche category.
Why Perko Oarlocks Stand Out
Perko's oar sockets and standard oar locks are made in the USA, a distinction that matters to boaters who demand consistent quality and domestic accountability. The use of manganese bronze — rather than lower-cost zinc alloys alone — in key horn products means these oarlocks resist the pitting and galvanic corrosion that plagues inferior hardware over time in marine environments.
Marine oarlocks provide secure pivot points for oars, allowing smooth and controlled rowing, and are essential hardware for tenders, rowboats, and small craft. Choosing a proven manufacturer like Perko for this role means the hardware won't become the weak link during a critical moment on the water. Whether you're outfitting a yacht tender, a classic wooden rowboat, or a fiberglass dinghy, Perko's oarlock hardware delivers the reliability that comes from over a century of marine metal expertise.