Rowing an Avon

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Row in short sharp strokes rather than long hard pulls. Its a technique that takes some practice and is different from rowing a hard dinghy.
 
Those rowlocks look a lot less substantial than the ones on my old Redstart and I never had a problem. Agree with Tranona about the style of rowing, you have to row in 'low gear'. Other possibility is to increase the size of the loom of the oar, leather or cord wrapped around, a pair of those plastic collars? Maybe the dinghy isn't pumped up hard enough and you are distorting the tubes when pulling hard?
 
The original wooden looms were quite substantial. Weedy modern replacements might be part of your problem.

My oars are about 6 foot long, they allow you to put your back into it a bit more. They are two part, so not too bad to stow.
 
As the others have said.. shorter sharper strokes help...

but also try angling the blades away from you at their lower edge.. Then when you pull the blade and hence the oar will tend to pull itself downwards into the water rather than just horizontally or upwards..
 
Burnham Bob said:
tip from a friend of mine - if there are two of you paddle instead of rowing.
Click to expand...

Totally disagree
Actually the Avon has to be one of the best inflatable dinghies for rowing
Suggest op checks thickness of the oar where it passes though the rowlocks
Adjust pressure in inflatable seat to get best height for rowing. Should not be as hard as the rest of the dinghy if you are taller to let you sit lower & let oars pass over your legs
If i do not go to ostend this bank holiday i have been entered for an inflatable dinghy rowing race over a couple of miles
 
My 40 year old Avon rows rather well but I made my own oars and they're much larger than the ones that came with it.The oars only have a tendency to jump out when the tubes are under inflated.
 
images

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001C0WQQS/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=11068051925&ref=asc_df_B001C0WQQS
Have not rowed an Avon for a long time but for any other dinghy I have no doubt...
 
Burnham Bob said:
tip from a friend of mine - if there are two of you paddle instead of rowing.
Click to expand...

I would say that that is nonsense. Indeed, if I was nearer Burnham on Crouch, I would challenge you to a race over any distance you might choose. I have the two-part wooden oars, but I have slightly increased the length from that supplied. I find that my Redcrest rows very well, and have never had the oars coming out of the rubber rowlocks. They're a lot better than most of the modern type, which have a pin on which the oar swivels.
 
Rowing a Redstart with an adult passenger for any distance is more than I can cope with. SWMBO & I have found that with a certain amount of unaccustomed co-operation, we can take one oar each and make good progress with very little effort. The trick is to start slowly and only gradually increase the throttle to achieve an easy rhythm. I have never had an oar jump out, but then, I am pretty feeble.
 
I will echo others comments. I rowed our Avon a couple of miles last week. The standard Avon oars as supplied (two part with plastic collars) didn't jump out once and I am fairly big and powerful and I rowed fairly enthusiastically at times. Ours is a 3.4 metre air deck with solid transom and an inflatable keel.
 
Another vote for the avon,'s row ability. We use ours daily. Never had oars pop out unless dinghy under inflated. Often row very hard against wind, chop and tide with wife, daughter, dog and shopping. Love my Avon and the fact it enables us not to have to own an outboard.
 
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