Row Boats for the
FrontRower™
When we think about row boats, two extreme types come to mind. One is the old fashioned
heavily built traditional work boat
such as a dory or utility skiff. The other is the modern
lightweight racing shell or scull that you see in
the Olympics and other regattas.
But the FrontRower is
intended for a different purpose (pleasure rowing or touring), and for
this purpose a different kind of boat is called for. There was a
time when pleasure rowing boats were fairly common.
These boats were known as pulling boats or
sometimes as gentleman's rowing boats or wherries.
They were more lightly built and narrower on the waterline than their
workboat cousins. This made them easier to row and easier to drag up
on the beach. But you don't see them around much anymore, probably
because canoes and kayaks (with their forward-facing operation) made them
obsolete.
The FrontRower has it's oarlocks mounted on
a column near the centerline of the boat. This means that the beam at
the gunwales (the rail on the top of the sides) is limited to about 36 inches
(because the oars will hit the sides on a wider boat). Most
traditional row boats designed for oarlock-on-gunwale rowing have a
gunwale beam in the 48 to 60 inch range, which means that they are too
wide for use with the FrontRower.
As it turns out, canoes are
the perfect size and shape for use as pleasure rowing boats, and most of
them are narrow enough for use with the FrontRower. A typical
canoe's waterline dimensions (waterline length and waterline beam) are
similar to the pulling boats of yore, giving them similar easy rowing
qualities at pleasure rowing speeds. A canoe may have a narrower
beam at the gunwale than a pulling boat, but the reason for the excess beam of the pulling
boat was to get enough spread between the gunwale mounted oarlocks.
If you don't have gunwale mounted oarlocks, you don't need span at the
gunwales.
We recommend a maximum beam of 36"
across the
gunwales. The
FrontRower rig requires an open cockpit area
60” long
and 20” wide. It needs to mounted
to the bottom of the boat, at or below water level, not
on seats or thwarts.
 Most tandem touring type canoes meet the
above requirements and can be converted into excellent touring row
boats. Most tandem canoes will accommodate one FrontRower plus a
passenger. A solo canoe may accommodate a FrontRower, but
probably not a passenger.
See
canoe conversions drawing.
The ability to bring a passenger along is highly
desirable and can make rowing a lot more enjoyable. And on longer
trips, to share the load you can always
take turns rowing.
There are some traditional style rowing boats with
low freeboard and a gunwale beam a little more than of 36
inches can be adapted to accommodate the FrontRower. Some guide
boats and wherries fit in this category.
We do not recommend kayaks for use with
the FrontRower.
Here are some of the
qualities that should be considered for a good touring rowboat:
-
Light enough to be launched by one person.
-
Can be rowed easily by one
person.
-
Seaworthy enough to handle the expected conditions including wake from
motorboats.
-
Enough cargo capacity for food, extra clothing, and whatever else you may
want to bring along on a typical day trip.
-
Enough freeboard to
keep you and your cargo dry.
-
Room for an optional passenger.
-
If you have a rowing partner, you may want to have a boat long enough for
two rowing rigs. Such a boat could still be rowed solo, as long as it is
light weight enough to be launched by one person.
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