Where to Position Rowlocks ?

[graham]

I have a very small (13ft 4inch trailer sailer and wish to fit rowlocks and a sculling block on the stern.

Where in relation to the thwart do the rowlocks go?

.I vaguely remember 12 inches aft of the thwart being right but cant remember if this is aft of the center of the thwart or 12 inches aft of the aft edge of the thwart.

The "thwart" in this case will be the bridge deck across the front of the cockpit.

 

[NormanS]

Make up a mock-up, and see what's comfortable for you.

 

[VicS]

We had this discussion a short while ago. I got the Mirror dinghy plans out then. IIRC the general opinion was about 14" from the aft edge of the thwart, but may have been only 12"

A search should find the previous discussion.

These ones seem about right. The boat is 8ft long. I make 'em about 13" from the aft edge.

 

[smonard]

I would have thought you should decide where would make a good rowing seat and position the rowlocks accordingly. You want a good place for you feet to push on, maybe the back of the cockpit. As you know a nicely setup rowboat is a joy, badly setup is no fun at all.

 

[graham]

Thanks Vic

Thanks Vic. Just searched out the older thread on the same subject and 11 to 14 inches aft from the edge of the thwart seems to be agreed on.

Should have used search first but it didnt work last time I tried which was quite a while ago.

 

[graham]

I would have thought you should decide where would make a good rowing seat and position the rowlocks accordingly. You want a good place for you feet to push on, maybe the back of the cockpit. As you know a nicely setup rowboat is a joy, badly setup is no fun at all.

Thats true but the bridge deck is ok with the hatch open and wasboards out. I did a dry run to make sure I had room to lean back. Fairly certain it will work ok . I dont really want the complication of a removable thwart or anything like that. Will try and get a video of the rowing trials and report back later .

 

[smonard]

What a great little boat!

Thats true but the bridge deck is ok with the hatch open and wasboards out. I did a dry run to make sure I had room to lean back. Fairly certain it will work ok . I dont really want the complication of a removable thwart or anything like that. Will try and get a video of the rowing trials and report back later .

 

[DownWest]

That boat does look fun.
11" aft of the rear edge of the thwart was on my plans for my Oughtred boat. Feels right too.
A

 

[Gunfleet]

Tell us about the boat, Graham. It looks great.

 

[alahol2]

Just wondering if you might be better off with mediterranean style 'push' oars.
You could see where you are going and maybe steer with the tiller between your legs?

 

[Ubergeekian]

I have a very small (13ft 4inch trailer sailer and wish to fit rowlocks and a sculling block on the stern.

Where in relation to the thwart do the rowlocks go?

It depends at the very least on the length of the oars, width of the hull and the height of the rowlocks above the thwart. I had exactly the same issue when I was doing up my Hunter 490 last year and the simplest solution was for me to sit in the rowing position while a couple of assistants moved the oars around. Took abut ten minutes and the results work just fine.

 

[graham]

Tell us about the boat, Graham. It looks great.

OK not much to tell really ,She is a Voyager 14 we have owned for a few months. She is a bilge keel trail;er sailer , self righting and withj 2 good size bunks but little headroom . Sails well but has a small sail plan better suited to a fresh breeze than light airs.

 

[graham]

It depends at the very least on the length of the oars, width of the hull and the height of the rowlocks above the thwart. I had exactly the same issue when I was doing up my Hunter 490 last year and the simplest solution was for me to sit in the rowing position while a couple of assistants moved the oars around. Took abut ten minutes and the results work just fine.

Roughly how high above the thwart / seat arer the top of the chocks your rowlocks go in ?

My bridge deck is about one inch lower than the side decks the rowlock chocks wiull be bolted to tjhe edge of. I may have to make blocks that stand up a few inches?

 

[Lakesailor]

I would say it depends entirely on your height, length of arms, length of legs, where you can brace your feet.
I moved my thwart forwards to make rowing a more pleasant experience in my tender, which is 7' 6" long. The rowlocks are too far aft so the directional stability could be better (pushing, instead of pulling) but the thwart couldn't be any further forward as the bow would dig in too much.
I have the best compromise, but another foot in the OAL would solve the issues.

Put some cheap rowlock gudgeons (£2.50, Plastimo) on a board and clamp them to the gunwhale. then move them about to get the best spot. The deciding factor for me was to get my knees low enough for the oars to clear when pushing back to start the stroke.

 

[DogWatch]

on the transom

 

[Ubergeekian]

Roughly how high above the thwart / seat arer the top of the chocks your rowlocks go in ?

My bridge deck is about one inch lower than the side decks the rowlock chocks wiull be bolted to tjhe edge of. I may have to make blocks that stand up a few inches?

In my case they go through the cockpit coaming, which is about 8" above the height of the seat.