Skulling oar

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Steve Souther

Skulling oar

Post by Steve Souther »

RE: rowing a Typhoon.

Someone mentioned trying oar locks and found it didn't work. I wonder if the ancient method of sculling would work. A singly oar made of lightweight illuminum (about 14 feet long) oar extended over the stern and secured by a single oar lock in the center...it was used effectively for many centuries to power large craft on the waterways of the ancient world. Think it would work? I learned the art (somewhat) from a neighbor while growing up in the Low Country of South Carolina, and my friend and I rowed a large oyster batou using that long wooden oar.
Can't remember how long it was. The boat was a wide beamed 18 footer, made of heavy planks.

Has anyone out there tried this?

Steve (wanting a Typhoon) Souther



souther@horizon.hit.net
Bob Wesel

Re: Skulling oar

Post by Bob Wesel »

Steve Souther wrote: RE: rowing a Typhoon.

Someone mentioned trying oar locks and found it didn't
work. I wonder if the ancient method of sculling would
work. A singly oar made of lightweight illuminum (about 14
feet long) oar extended over the stern and secured by a
single oar lock in the center...it was used effectively for
many centuries to power large craft on the waterways of the
ancient world. Think it would work? I learned the art
(somewhat) from a neighbor while growing up in the Low
Country of South Carolina, and my friend and I rowed a
large oyster batou using that long wooden oar.
Steve Souther wrote: Can't remember how long it was. The boat was a wide
beamed 18 footer, made of heavy planks.
Steve Souther wrote: Has anyone out there tried this?

Steve (wanting a Typhoon) Souther
I used to skull my Typhoon "Spirit" with the tiller/rudder.
Never had a problem with it. I never tried an extra oar as
the rudder worked, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
harris

Re: Skulling oar

Post by harris »

Bob Wesel wrote: I was the one responsible for the rowing thread. I have a Sea Sprite 23 (Alberg) which is low in freeboard like the Typhoon.I always enjoy passing Typhoons and yelling......Hey mister.....did they shrink your boat? The SS lookes like a Typhoon magnified 50%. Alot of guys suggested sculling and infact there are certain flexible oars that are suggested. My opinion of sculling is that it is only a neccesary solution if the boat has a beam that is too wide for rowing or too high a freeboard. I found a pair of plastic coverd aluminum lifeguard boat oars locally. As my boat is in dry dock with other boats close on either side I am waiting to make my final decision as to if rowing is physically possible based on the relationship between the top of the combings....the gunwal and the waterline. If it looks close I am just going to mount the oarlocks and go. I once paddled my boat about 2 miles after running out of gas one night. This too 2 people with oars..one on each side and a bit of discomfort. Nonetheless it got me home. A smaller boat like a typhoon should be a snap to row. Even one oar should do it with the tiller to compensate. Mind you that I sail on barnegat bay......off a mooring.....and don't need to contend with inlets.....tides...or bridges, just 28 miles of the countries best wind and sailing conditions. One summer a motor repair was delayed 5 weeks and it helped me realise that it was not missed. I figure that a set of oars will get me home in a pinch...we will see.
Steve Souther wrote: RE: rowing a Typhoon.

Someone mentioned trying oar locks and found it didn't
work. I wonder if the ancient method of sculling would
work. A singly oar made of lightweight illuminum (about 14
feet long) oar extended over the stern and secured by a
single oar lock in the center...it was used effectively for
many centuries to power large craft on the waterways of the
ancient world. Think it would work? I learned the art
(somewhat) from a neighbor while growing up in the Low
Country of South Carolina, and my friend and I rowed a
large oyster batou using that long wooden oar.
Steve Souther wrote: Can't remember how long it was. The boat was a wide
beamed 18 footer, made of heavy planks.
Steve Souther wrote: Has anyone out there tried this?

Steve (wanting a Typhoon) Souther
I used to skull my Typhoon "Spirit" with the tiller/rudder.
Never had a problem with it. I never tried an extra oar as
the rudder worked, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.


hg@myhost.com
harris

rowing

Post by harris »

I forgot to mention.......the oars in question are 9 footers.



hg@myhost.com
Arnold Amenda

Re: Skulling oar

Post by Arnold Amenda »

Steve Souther wrote: RE: rowing a Typhoon.

Someone mentioned trying oar locks and found it didn't work. I wonder if the ancient method of sculling would work. A singly oar made of lightweight illuminum (about 14 feet long) oar extended over the stern and secured by a single oar lock in the center...it was used effectively for many centuries to power large craft on the waterways of the ancient world. Think it would work? I learned the art (somewhat) from a neighbor while growing up in the Low Country of South Carolina, and my friend and I rowed a large oyster batou using that long wooden oar.
Can't remember how long it was. The boat was a wide beamed 18 footer, made of heavy planks.

Has anyone out there tried this?

Steve (wanting a Typhoon) Souther
Steve,
I was thinking of rowing my Typhoon Daysailer and read the same comments you read and got discouraged. I remember that there was no explaination about why rowing didn't work. I tried to figure it out, and my only guess is that on a Weekender there is no convienant place to sit at the correct height, or stand. I am rethinking oars for my Daysailer as the cockpit is much deeper and I think I can stand and row. The issue seems to be I can only stow oars up to 8-ft. long on my Daysailer and longer oars might be better. I think sculling oars are specialized. I would look in Seattle in the Wooden Boat Store, they have mail order and are listed in the phone book. Hey, where are you going to stow a 14-ft. oar anyway? If anybody has info on regular rowing (or non-rowing)...

Arnold



aamenda@ix.netcom.com
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