Forward-facing rowing

[Graham W]

The Victorians invented lever systems that allowed rowers to face forward while pulling on oars in a (more or less) normal way.  Presumably to help them to creep up on unsuspecting ducks prior to shooting them. An American company has taken this idea and fabricated it in stainless steel http://www.ghboats.com/options/accessories/forwardrow/

It's expensive and looks quite heavy but could be useful on, say, a BRe, where splitting the oars in this way would at least help with the stowage problem.

[Michael Rogers]

What fun! Backward-facing rowing is so 'ingrained' that I have difficulty even imagining what the opposite would look like, and I think I'd laugh (kindly) at the sight. Sort of Alice Through the Looking Glass stuff. But very practical, if it works. How to link up with steering, for a complete package?

It looks solid and therefore, as Graham says, probably quite heavy. If anyone finds out more, or even gives it a go, do keep us posted.

Their spoon-blade oars look gorgeous. Perhaps I should invest in a pair of those instead of a Torqeedo!

Michael

[Graham W]

Here's a video of someone using it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbZjR6-F9r8

The oar blades sweep very far back and the rower seems to be pulling the oar handles high up into his chest, which can't be comfortable.

[Julian Swindell]

I think in a largish boat, like a Bayraider, it might be easiest to row with long oars, standing up and facing forward. You would lean your weight into the oars to go forwards and would see where you are going. I have some photos of Vietnamese boat men rowing this way. which I will try to dig out. It is how I would like to row my Baycruiser, but I would probably need 12ft oars, which are very expensive, and where do you store them? Sectional ones would go under the side decks in the cockpit, but does anyone make 12ft sectional oars? I've never found any off the peg. Maybe a winter project for next year? No time now.

[Tony]

The weakness with all mechanical leverage systems is the metal/wood joint. Doomed to fail sooner or later.
Making the whole thing in carbon fibre might work but what to do with all those awkward looking bits when sailing?

I'm happy to row “Four Sisters”, my CBL, in the conventional way (......easy to make 3 knots for hours on end , now I have oars  the right length!) using a rear view mirror fixed  to the mizzen mast with a bit of shock cord, as and when required. Not brilliant but good enough. I can't look over my shoulder as the cabin is in the way – something to be grateful for when rowing into the wind! For more precision when docking I stand up to row, facing forward. You  can do that with longer oars. They  won't fit the cabin but, anyway, I always keep them in the crutches, ready to use, with the blades fixed to the gunnels with quick release knots. Very handy!  (Also, if I miss stays in a light wind – been known to happen! -  a quick swipe with one oar brings her round before anyone notices!)