Foot Rowing

[dylanwinter]

dig this lads

gotta teach Jill to do this

1.10 in



also ideal for rowing away from an ugly boat

 

[lustyd]

I like the rope rowlocks. Odd that they all row forwards though, must be very tiring.

 

[Caliban]

That scenery is . . . well, it aint the M62 past Leeds

 

[rustybarge]

Clever native technology.

Did you notice how the oars automatically feathered themselves with the rope rowlocks, it wasn't nessecary to rotate the oar on the forward stroke, as you do in a modern sculling boat.

Trying it out on my dingy first thing tomorrow!

 

[Lakesailor]

I like the rope rowlocks. Odd that they all row forwards though, must be very tiring.

We get loads of Asians in Bowness. They go out in hire rowing boats. They all do that. Nightmare.

 

[Bajansailor]

An American gentleman by the name of Ron Rantilla invented a system for rowing with his feet after (I think) he lost an arm - and I don't think he was too keen on sculling.
And the Front Rower was created - http://www.frontrower.com/

An American pal turned up here about 10 years ago on his sailing cat, after sailing up from South Africa - he had a Merry Wherry rowing boat on board which he had built from a kit, and instead of a conventional sliding seat arrangement he had a front rower. I had a go on it, and it was really quite amazing - it seemed to be less effort than 'conventional' rowing, with the bonus of being able to see where you are going.

 

[rustybarge]

An American gentleman by the name of Ron Rantilla invented a system for rowing with his feet after (I think) he lost an arm - and I don't think he was too keen on sculling.
And the Front Rower was created - http://www.frontrower.com/

An American pal turned up here about 10 years ago on his sailing cat, after sailing up from South Africa - he had a Merry Wherry rowing boat on board which he had built from a kit, and instead of a conventional sliding seat arrangement he had a front rower. I had a go on it, and it was really quite amazing - it seemed to be less effort than 'conventional' rowing, with the bonus of being able to see where you are going.

Only problem I see with the system is you can't control the depth of the blade. Any sort of chop would make it impossible to row. How do you stop the boat capsizing,the oars are fixed in place, as you can't balance the scull blades on top of the water?

IMHO that's why nobody uses them. The rope rowlocks look much better, and cheaper Cheaper than $2000.

 

[LittleShip]

Many years ago I use to row for long distance swimmers, it was much easier to guide them if you rowed forward and as stated you can see where you are going, mind you I never tried it with my feet.

Tom.

 

[charles_reed]

Many years ago I use to row for long distance swimmers, it was much easier to guide them if you rowed forward and as stated you can see where you are going, mind you I never tried it with my feet.

Tom.

And, of course, except for competitive rowers and the yotties who ape them, most people row facing forward so they can see where they're going.

PS "Most" used advisedly as there are lots more Asians than Europeans and nearly all in the natives in the Med like to see where they're going.

 

[Davegriff]

Often row our little hard tender from rear thwart facing forward when two aboard - only way to balance the boat anything like level. Do it in the inflatable too as it's easier to steer without the aid of a keel. It is harder work though but looking in the direction of travel is nice. Those who know me know I have a habit of rowing into things otherwise..

Definitely going try with feet sometime.

 

[rustybarge]

IMHO, standing up and facing forward is going to work better.


View attachment 30047View attachment 30048

 

[AntarcticPilot]

And, of course, except for competitive rowers and the yotties who ape them, most people row facing forward so they can see where they're going.

PS "Most" used advisedly as there are lots more Asians than Europeans and nearly all in the natives in the Med like to see where they're going.

I would often have found it impossible to get out to my boat in anything of a breeze if I'd rowed facing forward. You simply can't get as much power into the stroke - even in a flubber - rowing facing forward. All you need to do is consider which muscles you're using in either case.

Rowing forward - all you can use is your arm muscles. If standing, maybe you can use a bit more - but it is still going through your arms, which are being used in compression, so totally dependent on the strength of your arms.
Rowing backwards - even without a sliding seat - you use your arm and back muscles, and have the benefit of your leg muscles to brace yourself in position. Your arms are being used in tension, so the stronger muscles of the legs and arms can start the stroke, with the weaker arms taking up the tension at the end of the stroke.

I'd say you can use at least twice the weight of muscle in your body rowing backwards (much more if using a sliding seat - which of course, are not usually fitted to tenders!). Of course, Dylan's video shows a way of using leg muscles (which are much larger than arm muscles) to row facing forward; but at the cost of loss of control of the oar as feet will never be as dexterous as hands.

 

[rustybarge]

A much simpler system would be to face forwards on a sliding seat, but attach wires from the seat to the end of blades on standard oars.

So you could use a totally standard set up of an oar in a rowlock, which you control as normal with your hands but pushing instead if pulling, then as you push back with the slide seat the wires attached to the seat would pull the end of the scull blade back towards you.

I'm down to the patent office....!