Zodiac Zoom rib - rowlock upgrade or replacement

[gandy]

Hi,

We have a Zodiac Zoom rib which we use as runabout in the bay as well as tender. It's PVC, not Hypalon. It has those articulated rowlocks that I'm sure everyone's seen on small inflatables, a sort of pin that can swivel for rowing, or fold flat to store the oars, and captive oars held by a plastic clamp. The problem is that in use that assembly flexes at best, and sometimes folds over, making rowing pretty difficult. I'm swithering over whether to cut off the existing filling and replace with something like these Avon Style Rowlock. Hesitating in part because that's an irreversible change.

Anyone done anything similar, and can comment on the process, and on anything that might catch me out?

Or alternatively, has anyone found a way to adapt the standard rowlocks on this type of boat?

Thanks, Tony S

 

[duncan99210]

I've got that style of rowlock, never had much of a problem with it. However, if the inflatable tubes are not pumped hard, then the flexing I think you're describing becomes a problem, so perhaps worth making sure that the tubes are pumped up well before resorting to changing the rowlocks.
You could no doubt remove the existing ones and replace with other types but if the problem is being caused by the rowlock a themselves flexing due to the tubes not giving you a firm platform to row against, it won't have the desired effect. Unless I've misunderstood the problem.

 

[gandy]

Cheers. The problem with the standard rowlocks is that the post that the oar connects to isn't locked in a vertical position, and is inclined to angle outwards. This means firstly that part of each stroke is wasted while the support flexes into it's load bearing position, then secondly if it does angle out the position of the effective pivot moves suddenly meaning you lose all power on that oar for a second. I'll have to have a try next time and see exactly what the problem movement is, and whether pumping the tubes up improves things.

I'm quite confident that the type I linked would work fine assuming they're decent quality and I can get them to stick. I have that sort on an old Avon and they work perfectly well as long as you have decent length oars.