Does anyone still scull?

brittany 2 years ago

[video]http://vid558.photobucket.com/albums/ss23/fergie_mac66/DSCF0170.mp4[/video]

[video]http://vid558.photobucket.com/albums/ss23/fergie_mac66/DSCF0170.mp4[/video]
 
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Camelia said:
Very, very common in Brittany. Not easy to do in an inflatable.
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Actually, sculling can be very useful in an Avon - I don't know if it works in other types. If you find yourself coming alongside another boat that you wish to approach and can't row close enough, if you place your boat parallel, you can scull into the host boat, sideways.
 
I sculled my fifteen-foot clinker dinghy Aileen Louisa regularly, using a sculling notch I cut in the transom -- very handy for navigating narrow channels among the mangroves. The total width of boat-plus-oars of about 15' could be reduced to the beam-only width of five feet.

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And I set up my pocket cruiser Sanderling with a 14' cut-down lifeboat oar and a large rowlock that could be moved to either side of the cockpit for rowing (standing, facing forward) or on to the transom for sculling.

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Mike
 
Hadenough said:
Genuine question. What is the advantage apart from only needing to buy one oar?
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As has already been mentioned, the ability to propel oneself down a narrow channel is a real benefit. Or coming in amongst a raft of other dinghies for example. Added to which if you lose/break an oar, it's nice (and safer) to be able to make progress with only one. Sometimes it's useful not to be occupying the prime seat athwartship from which to row - the sculler (is that the term?) arguably takes up less room astern.
 
Wooden Boat Fittings said:
I sculled my fifteen-foot clinker dinghy Aileen Louisa regularly, using a sculling notch I cut in the transom -- very handy for navigating narrow channels among the mangroves. The total width of boat-plus-oars of about 15' could be reduced to the beam-only width of five feet.

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Now that would be a seriously nice boat for sculling!
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doris said:
I thought sculling was a single oar over the transom and a lot of wrist movement....a lot more difficult than it looks.
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I'm not sure about the skill required. On windless days in the '80s, I used to launch my Topper without the rig, and go several miles just waggling the tiller from side to side.

I should point out that some daggerboard was required for directional stability. But considerable propulsion came just from vigorous lateral movement of the rudder blade astern.

Perhaps the wrist-twisting motion of "skilled" scullers, relates to the good rower's ability to twist the oar on the backstroke, so it skims the surface or puts up least resistance, returning easily to the 'drive' position.

Still, assuming the vessel has some species of keel to stop her forward end skittering about, I reckon just driving an oar from side to side astern, will drive her forward. It certainly did in the Topper, though as has been said, funny looks were engendered.
 
I scull my small boat, a Drascombe Lugger.
Arriving late for the Coniston rally I launched the boat, left the cockpit cover in place and sculled her round to the beach so that we could rush off and get the tent pitched. Later on, we found that the discussion in the clubhouse just as we had arrived had been "is it possible to scull a Drascombe?"
 
AHoy2 said:
Still common enough amongst gaffers for sculling races to be held at get togethers, with all ages partaking.
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One of Des Sleightholmer's "Old Harry" books has a piece about an innocent young lad being introduced to "gaff rig" by a friend of his father. When they are going to the boat the owner rows normally until they come in sight of other owners, at which point he stands up and very slowly sculls them the rest of the way.
 
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So, the World Championship only features two boats? Jeez, it really isn't popular these days.

Interesting how varied the sculling style seems to be. I can't help thinking the very rapid movements aren't nearly as effective as steady broader strokes.
 
I think the fact is that with those little light hulls you can make pretty quick strokes because not a lot of effort is involved. Aileen Louisa was quite heavy and took a fair while to get moving, and a fair effort to keep moving -- slow strokes were de rigeur under those circumstances.

Thanks for the compliments on her to those who provided them, too. There are a few more photos of her here here if you're interested.

Mike
 
JumbleDuck said:
One of Denny Desoutter's "Old Harry" books has a piece about an innocent young lad being introduced to "gaff rig" by a friend of his father. When they are going to the boat the owner rows normally until they come in sight of other owners, at which point he stands up and very slowly sculls them the rest of the way.
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(Psssstt!! 'Old Harry' was the creation of Des Sleightholme)
 
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