rowing facing forward

[simonfraser]

Hi,

has anyone tried this:

rowing forwards

if so, any good, or do you know better ?

 

[26ft_bathtub]

I quite often row forward when I'm maneuvering.

Is the idea that the motion and power are the same as conventional aft-facing rowing?

 

[Lakesailor]

50% of the rowboat hirers in Bowness Bay use the technique. Mainly because they don't know how to row properly!
Of course they are trying to push the boat backwards, so it doesn't really work very well.

 

[Duncantaz]

This seems like an expensive and complicated solution to a problem that really doesn't exist. A transit and a quick peek over my shoulder periodically seems to do the trick for me!

 

[michael_w]

If you've got a very heavy boat it's easier to stand up and lean on the oars. You can also see where you are going. Unlike the RoBos on the Thames.

 

[2Tizwoz]

Like this?

Or this looks very relaxing until that is you see the price

 

[reginaldon]

Folkestone fishermen never row any other way than standing facing forward

 

[Poignard]

Seems to work ok in Venice and Malta.

 

[Danny]

I sometimes row inflatables backwards (or forwards, depending on your point of view - anyway, stern first) but not rigid dinghies. As for that gadget which reverses the motion of the oars; I'm sure that would completely throw me. It would be like having a tiller or a steering wheel connected up to turn the rudder the wrong way. I certainly wouldn't want to cut a decent pair of oars in half like it says in the installation instructions.

 

[26ft_bathtub]

These RIB things seem pretty easy to row facing forwards--as far as I can tell, people manipulate this little wheel back and forth. It doesn't look like it would do much, but it must move the oars pretty well because they go really quick!

 

[old_salt]

Quote:-
Folkestone fishermen never row any other way than standing facing forward

This has long been the practise for fishermen when picking up pots it allows you to go forward and be in sight of the next marker and it is easer to haul in the pot and set off again.

 

[EASLOOP]

In the words of the immortal Spike Milligan:

"I'm rowing backwards to Christmas, across the Irish Sea!"

Or was it 'walking

'ello Neddy!

cackles of laughter.

 

[Slow_boat]

Does anyone still scull witha single oar, like the chap in Tizwozs' picture?

There used to be an old bloke of about 312 yrs old when I was a kid in Portsmouth. He was employed by BR ferries and used to scull a big heavy old clinker dinghy out of the Camber every day in all weathers. I was in awe of the way he could get up a good speed without apparantly trying and was so calm and stable even in a big chop.

Come to that, when the Camber was a fish and commercial dock, all the fishermen could scull, even Sally Ogden who was the only female to run a fishing boat out of the Camber.

She was my best friends big sister and she was gorgeous!

 

[tazzle]

This seems to be a common skill in Jersey - most native tenders seem to have provision on the transom for this. Something I'd like to teach myself.

 

[Lakesailor]

I put a rowlock on my tender stern for sculling, and do so now and then, but I think it's more suited to heavier boats where the momentum carries you on. It's a bit frantic in a small grp boat.

 

[Danny]

Absolutely agree. Sculling relies on inertia to stop the boat swinging from side to side and wasting your energy. I've never tried sculling an inflatable but, aside from the oar being too short, I don't think it would work well. With a long, heavy clinker built dinghy, however, it's a great method of propulsion. Also, as you're standing up in a small boat, you need a stable platform for safety's sake.

 

[Gargleblaster]

The Junk Rigged modified folkboat 'Jester' has no engine and the current owner uses a sweep ore on the stern for his main method of powered propulsion.
Although he wouldn't come down Itchenor Reach against the wind witht he sweep as he was concerned about hitting other boats. He also accepted a tow back to Chichester Marina when she broke her mast on the way to the start of the Jester Challenge.

 

[Gunfleet]

A lot of Breton small yachts carry one or two oars for either sculling or rowing the yacht. They usually keep them lashed to the shrouds. I have an old pair of oars myself and have often wondered bt rowing my 26ft yacht. But 4 tons? It seems a lot.

 

[26ft_bathtub]

I remember seeing a chap in St Malo sculling a little wooden rowboat so fast and smoothly I thought he had an outboard.

I gather they do it in the Caribbean quite a bit still.

 

[Barr Avel]

It is taught in French Sailing schools as an important skill..., I keep on meaning to learn/try!