Finding solutions to problems that don't exist.

I'm one of the guys who have to maneouver around obstacles; fixed ones like islands and bridges and mobile ones like swimmers and geese. Guys in a small boat do not want to run into the occasional swan with an attitude either, and hooking an irate fisherman's gear is often educational but rarely entertaining. Now add to all that, a general ban on motors - which I support whole-heartedly - and you have what is home for me. So paddles rule and oars ain't cool around here.

But I'll support any attempt to improve on the state-of-art in any area of endeavour whatsoever, right up to the moment of abject failure anyway . . .

 

Has anyone here tried one of the forward-rowing gadgets, like this one?

http://www.ghboats.com/options/accessories/forwardrow/

 

Nice contraption.

Perhaps you can market it on Tv and ..for a limited time only...include a Super Bass O Matic with every purchase ?

Act now and receive a free set of steak knifes , at no cost.

http://

 

Yes. Some are better than others with respect to slop in the system. The nicest I've seen involved wires running in an S around sheaves, two in the direction of pull and one in the direction of recovery, with turnbuckles to tighten them as required (like tuning a guitar). The other really nice one I tried was like those depicted, made by a meticulous aircraft machinist. Then there's the FrontRower (which I have not tried) which has the advantage of feathering the oars during recovery. http://www.frontrower.com/

 

I've looked at forward facing rowing systems. Problem is, they don't compare with a paddle in the critical areas (to me) of weight and price. Top of the line paddle 28 oz, $200. Forward rowing system 20 lb (?), $500 - $1500. Also the paddle doesn't interfere with getting in and out again.

On a boat larger than a 12' canoe the rowing system would give greater power and speed, but I have to carry the boat a couple of hundred yards over soft draggy sand to get to the water. However it's something I would really like to try out, perhaps on a guideboat or wherry.