I suggest you start with Gilmore's questions. Knowing what you're trying to accomplish would make it much easier to provide relevant advice! I...
Also note that the inboard length of oars in sliding-seat rowing provides leverage, greater force (power) out at the blade.
Sliding seat is mostly about using the strength of the legs (big muscles) to drive the boat, really using the entire body, not just arms and back....
Double paddle works well for a 24 to 28 inch beam kayak, and OK up to perhaps 36 inch beam. Beyond that, not so well! And sliding-seat rowing is...
Skyak, you make very good points! Sailing, for me, is the primary propulsion. Rowing complicates things, but still seems the most efficient...
Regarding drain flooding cockpit when capsized: My Marsh Duck had daggerboard with case open on top, in the floor of the cockpit, that acted as a...
Sounds interesting. Please continue to share as you go forward.
A good bit of the thrust moving many ocean rowing boats is the prevailing winds. Large front cabin with small aft catches that wind.
For perspective: Jean Jacques Savin drifted across the Atlantic in 128 days from the Canary Islands to St. Eustatius Is. in the Caribbean, in his...
PS: the over 3000 lbs. gross displacement I mentioned was for the only 5-foot ocean rowing boat I found, a very unusual one for a solo rower....
Peter, thanks for continuing interest and thoughts. For now, a couple of quick thoughts: With foam core, strength comes from the skins, not the...
A couple of thoughts: Most ocean-crossing row boats are significantly more than 5-foot beam. I'd say 6 feet and greater is general. The only...
She's 19'10 inches long, 44-inch beam. The weights are calculated, currently 69 lbs. for the boat itself (not including foils, sailing and rowing...
No. I'll certainly be able to do that better than most ocean rowing boats, but would always be prepared to sit it out on sea anchor from the bow...
PS: Yes, I could certainly buy an older fiberglass sailboat and prepare it for ocean crossing for the $ I'll put into this project. But it would...
Stimulated by this discussion I did a more balanced fore-aft and rounded lines design last night. It's a little heavier and slower rowing and...
If you haven't seen them, check out Sven Yrvind and his boats and voyages, and Aleksandr Doba and his 3 times crossing the Atlantic in a 23-foot,...
Yes, certainly challenging. That's part of the fun, I think. Yes, your last doodle has lots of similarities both to my Duck and current design ....
Just noticed that Bolger's Dovekie appears to have NO rocker. Note that most boats designed for or considered for even fairly minimal cruising...
Thanks for thoughts and design ideas. I will think on. Boat design always involves compromise. Some reasons for the characteristics of my...
