sweep?

[ann klefstad]

I read somewhere about someone coming up to his mooring in a Ty using a stern sweep oar--I guess something like a sampan? Has anyone rigged something like this on a Ty? if so, how?

I've been trying to rid myself of motor dependence, as firing up my balky ancient Merc at day's end to thread my way in to the marina tends to use up all the good temper I've gathered on the water. Many times I can sail in, but in contrary winds it would be good to have an alternate form of propulsion.

Ann Klefstad

[Oswego John]

Hi Ann,

The first thing that came to mind was that of a venetian gondola. They have no need for a balky outboard to propel them.

When using a sweep to scull the sail boat, it would have to be longer than usual than one that is used for a skiff type boat. This would involve providing a suitable place to store it while sailing. Then there would be the need to install a thole above the stern deck to use as a fulcrum for the sweep.

Have you given any thought to the use of an electric outboard for sidling up to your mooring?

I have sometimes wig-wagged my rudder back and forth to move the boat forward for short distances.

Good luck,
O J

[barfwinkle]

what about whitewater raft oars that mount into the top of your wenchs? Then just row away. A friend of mine on a CD 27 had this rig for a spare "motor".

Fair winds

(I hope I spelled wench correctly)

[Forrest]

James Baldwin has a sculling oar on his boat, Atom.

http://www.atomvoyages.com/images/AtomOar01kb67.jpg

[wingreen]

Are you talking about a yuloh, Ann? I think a sampan is type of boat. A yuloh is a long, stern-mounted oar used by Asian sailors. They wag it back and forth in the water like OJ says he does w/ his rudder. I've never used one myself, but they are reported to do very well.

[ann klefstad]

Thanks, all-- this is helpful! Particularly the photo of Baldwin's setup, though I can't tell how it's mounted--don't see tholepins or anything. Yeah, the sampan is the boat, which is propelled either by sail or by a _really large_ sweep in the stern. People row with their whole bodies, and a cloth strap seems to be used to fasten the oar to the oarsperson (often a woman, actually). I saw them swooping down the Grand Canal in China; I was standing on the Precious Belt bridge, a low bridge, so all the boats unstepped their masts as they swept under the bridge, then stepped them again after passing through. Maybe now everyone has outboards, but this was--god, 30 years ago. I was mightily impressed by the athletic choreography involved. Any idea where the specs for a yuloh (thanks! I never knew what the oar was called!) could be found?

[ann klefstad]

Hey, mounting the wenches is a hell of a lot more interesting than mounting anything on the winches! But the latter is a possibility-- not a bad notion. You could generate a fair amount of power with two big scoops, rowing standing. I'll look into it--

[henry hey]

Larry and Lin Pardy (renown author/cruisers) have a fine wood-construction boat with no engine, simply a sculling oar.

They manage to cross oceans and come in and out of harbors just fine.

If the desire is strong, I would think that you would have no problem sculling your Ty to the mooring.


If you end up 4 miles out in a dead calm. . . that may be another matter.

[Duncan]

Eric Hiscock had a sweep (oar) that he described in Wandering Under Sail, but he also talked about staying out all night until the tide changed. I believe the best you can manage "human-powered" is about a knot in calm conditions, so it's not much good against the wind or current. Just waiting patiently is probably the best technique, plus using every little breath of wind if there's anything at all?

I think The Oar Club might be one of the best sites for exploring other options, though.

O.J.'s suggestion of an electric outboard could make a lot of sense, since they're smaller than oars or a yuloh. I'd play around with a used Minn-Kota and a cheap battery before splashing out a lot of money, though, just to see if it works for you?

I was "stuck" on Lake Champlain waiting for an exhaust gasket for five days last summer on the way home. The lady at Shelburne Shipyard said "I guess you'll want a mooring, since now you can't go anywhere?".

Ha, ha. I said "No, I think I'll just go sailing". I think I had some of the best fun I had all summer, anchoring under a reefed main, or sailing into slips, wig-wagging the rudder a bit when the wind died. I found it very satisfying, and surprisingly easy, doing things purely under sail.

[Neil Gordon]

>>Eric Hiscock had a sweep (oar) that he described in Wandering Under Sail, but he also talked about staying out all night until the tide changed. Just waiting patiently is probably the best technique, plus using every little breath of wind if there's anything at all?<<

When there was no other choice, you went with the tide for as long as you could, then dropped the hook and hung out <groan> for six hours until you had a fair tide again. That works if you're stuck in the 18th century or if you're Eric Hiscock. It's less effective if you're a day sailor needing to go to work the next day.

[Jim Walsh]

Eric Hiscock is my favorite author and my favorite supersailor (Hal Roth is my second favorite) but even he modified his thinking considerably over the years when describing what amenities were necessary for the safe and sane operation of his vessels. Most of us are still beset by family or business deadlines so we need dependable propulsion. I'd spend a few bucks on a dependable outboard before I'd depend on a sweep or oars. Then again I'm not a purist, merely a practical coastal cruiser who still must punch a clock.

[Ralph H]

Hello Ann,
I built this stowable yuloh a couple of years ago for my Sea Sprite 23 (also an Alberg full-keel design). It works well in light air, which is why I carry it since I sail the Sea Sprite engineless. I can make about 1 1/2 knots in a 3400 lb displacement boat. You can tie down the rope on the "handle" end or just stand on it ... it keeps that end from rising up as you work the blade through the water. The pivot is just a PVC cap fitting which rides on a ~2" carriage bolt (not shown) which is mounted in a temporarily lashed down pole at the stern. I kept it temporary to find the best position for the pivot. It's important the the Yuloh pivots freely AND can flop slightly from side to side on the bolt head. For this reason, the bolt sticks up the 2" or so above the mounting point. The action is quite natural and not too tiring once you get the hang of it.

Full length assembled yulow ~12 ft long

The angle at the blade is ~12 degrees

I used a home-made clamping arrangement to hold the 2 main parts together.

This is the stowed configuaration ... fits nicely in the weekender sized cabin.

Hope this helps your thinking about yulohs.

Ralph

[Joe Myerson]

Ann,

Here's a link to a Pearson Ariel owner who rigged oarlocks to fit over his WINCHES (not wenches, as far as I can tell).

I believe his plastic, stowable oars are the same types used by whitewater rafters.

It's an intriguing idea, but I haven't tried it myself.

http://www.solopublications.com/sailario.htm

--Joe

[Baysailer]

Ann,

Here's a link to an article in Small Boat Journal on sculling.

http://councill.home.mindspring.com/sbj ... cull1.html

I've seen it done in boats about the TY's size with good results. Not particularly fast but quite graceful looking to me. After seeing Ralphs sculling oar pics I may try it myself. I can't always trust that I'll have gas a puff of wind to carry me or that the metal oar will fire.

Fred B

[SurryMark]

Of course when we've got to get home by a particular time, a motor is the surest bet, or staying right close to the mooring, but this is a sailing forum, and about classic designs yet. All of our harbors have boats without engines. The 30' Atlantics always come home and wiggle their ways through the moored boats to their own hooks. For six years I sailed a heavy 18' sloop called an Alacrity - a total tub compared to the TY - with only soft sails and an oars, and got a lot of mileage telling stories about ghosting through the harbor in the pitch black night. I also spent a few unintended nights anchored down the bay. (I scull a dinghy with an oar and thole pins, but never tried it on the Alacrity.) I guess the only point of this ramble is that I think that part of the Cape Dory appeal is their sweet old style and the feeling that they can go anywhere, even if we don't. What's better looking than swaying with your scull in a pretty little boat, as the modern sailors look on, refreshed and out of the rain in the clubhouse?

Did I mention that I'm glad to have a little diesel on my new 27?