Rowlocks for rowing boat

So oars twice the beam.

Seat at center of balance and rowlocks 13 inch aft of that.

Fit temp until happy.

Thats enough to get the show on the road. Thank you.

 

Not a bad guide... two times beam at the oar locks. Also consider the shape of the boat...is she high sided ? then longer oars to compensate for the freeboard. How do you hold the oars ? overlapped hand grips " or end to end ? . If over lapped, make the oars longer by a hand grips length.

In general make your oars long... if you think 7 footers will work...build them 7 and a half feet long...then trim down to personal preference after seatrails. Short Stubby oars are just terrible to row with.

 

...one more little tip Frosty, DO NOT make the ends of the oars meet close together....your thumbs will be crushed one day for sure....

 

That's an advice for landlubbers .. Actually if you have unexperienced quest using the dinghy close to shore it's ok advice. However the overlapped grip is a way more efficient..

 

Well to continue the topic of rowing technique( hows that for my french) The old fishermen often sat or stood facing forward when rowing their dorys. Apparently a popular method for the dory boys from the fishing schooners on the Grand Banks. I still do it often when i'm using the dory to gunkhole or photo taking. It's when the 9 and 10 foot oars come in handy. Geo.

A yacht is not defined by the vessel but by the care and love of her owner

 

Nothing wrong with setting an extra oar position so that you can stand, face forward and push the boat. Facing the wrong way when Pulling a boat gives you a stiff neck in tight conditions.

 

....nup fellas, today many dinghys use small outboards to leave the yacht, i would too if my boat was so ugly that I could not face it.....

...we always rowed facing aft, as we loved to see our boat for as long as we could and admire her beautiful lines....