In lack of good looking oar locks..

I have decided on thole pins. I like rowing with them and they look good. Have cut and split a hefty piece of juniper I had laying around (the traditional wood for thole pins in my part of the world). 

After some work by my ice cream powered task force...

.. I ended up with these..

Some fitting left for when I have drilled the holes in the gunwale (with an added oak cap).