Pacific Rowboat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Eric Sponberg, Oct 8, 2015.

  1. RHP
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    RHP Senior Member

    That's what I had in mind, a roll away top. You'll always have the fanatical rowers who accept no compromise, but a roll away top supported on an oar would make a great SAFETY jury rig as well. I don't see why these boats can't plan for emergency rigs as part of the concept of survivability.
     
  2. W9GFO
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    W9GFO Senior Member

    What is the difference between a canvas top being rigged for a sail and a bed sheet, parka or towel being rigged as a sail? It is inconceivable that there would not be access to a variety of materials that could be used to catch the wind. Why should a canvas top be singled out and looked upon so unfavorably?

    I can understand how a tent like structure would raise concerns, it could so easily be oriented to catch the breeze. A 6ft x 4ft panel constrained to tracks could not, at least not any more easily than rigging up a bed sheet.
     
  3. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I see people here imagining what they'd like installed if they were going to be the rower. Desist from such foolishness, these trans-oceanic rowers are a breed apart, and their preferences are not those of normal, sane people ! :D
     
  4. W9GFO
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    W9GFO Senior Member

    Discussing/sharing ideas is at the heart of a forums purpose

    Yes of course. I said as much. How else can we imagine?

    I looked at the website, I didn't see that Jacob had any experience with offshore sailing, let alone solo passage making, maybe he does.

    Does not Eric also imagine what it would be like in designing the vessel? Has he rowed an ocean?

    Near as I can tell we have several people here imagining, none of them with personal experience with this type of voyage. And that's okay. :)
     
  5. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    W9GFO...it was a lame attempt at humour by moi, which obviously didn't survive the trip across the Pacific ! :D
     
  6. W9GFO
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    W9GFO Senior Member

    I know, your big smiley gave it away, but I felt compelled to respond. I've seen similar comments that were dead serious. My comment was not directed at you personally, but at the notion that valid opinions only come from those that have direct experience.
     
  7. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I thought all the long-distance rowers were poms (Englishmen) ! This gent is a rare exception. It takes a certain unusual psychological make-up to even contemplate these sorts of expeditions, I can't claim to fully fathom it.
     
  8. Rurudyne
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    Rurudyne Senior Member

    Granted, but this forum is also full of people who want to build their own boats, so what does that have to do with us? ;)
     
  9. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    People who want to build their own boat are a bit crazy, I grant you. In some instances.
     
  10. Eric Sponberg
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    Eric Sponberg Senior Member

    Interesting discussion. First of all, full disclosure--no, I have not rowed on a big ocean myself, but I had studied ocean rowboats extensively and have always wanted to design such a boat. In my original discussions with Jacob, we did consider a canvas top that could be lashed, zipped, or slid out of the way. Like you, I feel very strongly that overhead protection that can be removed is very important. During the design, Jacob solicited opinions from a few other experienced ocean rowers for their opinions about how our design was progressing, and universally--that is everyone--decried the canvas top--that is a big no-no, never mind how it is rigged. Argued as we did, even as you argue above, canvas tops are frowned upon in the ocean rowing community.

    Which is to say, if you wanted to row across an ocean with a canvas-top boat, you can. there is nothing to stop you from doing so. But if you are trying for some sort of record or even tacit recognition of your effort, you will not get it from the established ocean rowing community. They will claim that a canvas top necessarily disqualifies you from their scrutiny and acceptance.

    So our choice was to simply not have a canvas top--if it is not there, they can't complain.

    Eric
     
  11. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Eric,
    reading this I pondered who are they?.... the "ocean rowing community" & quickly discovered this http://www.oceanrowing.com/
    Seems there's plenty going on or planned.

    Jeff.
     
  12. Eric Sponberg
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    Eric Sponberg Senior Member

    Hi Jeff,
    Ocean Rowing.com (the Ocean Rowing Society) are the primary arbiters of the sport of Ocean Racing, and certainly, they are the major players in "they" that I refer to. They do ocean rowing a great service in monitoring the sport and keeping ocean rowers connected. Another organization is New Ocean Wave, who run ocean rowing races and have a set of design rules for boats for the races that they run. Other enthusiasts--ocean rowers, builders and designers--who may not be part of the Ocean Rowing Society or New Ocean Wave, also have given us plenty of input on this design.

    Eric
     
  13. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    It's great to learn a bit of background on the "sport", without having learned a little I'd(in usual bigoted fashion) mostly assumed these attempts could be similar to the odd kook that makes the news in setting off in a barrel & promptly rescued or blown back to shore. I have read the account of a chap back in 70s that crossed the Tasman & the old accounts of Bligh's journey and similar. At work we have the canoe of two blokes that crossed the Tasman successfully & the Kayak/pittarak? that robbed a young family of their father in a similar attempt.
    Interesting to see the classifieds on the Ocean Rowing site, they seem in the main shallower draft than yours which looks much more weatherly. Yesterday was rowing a Couta boat(26') with built down hull & rail track ballast, flat water & goes quite well under oars.

    Regards from Jeff.
     
  14. W9GFO
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    W9GFO Senior Member

    Interesting that at least three of them have wind generators. Those wind generators are going to provide more downwind push than a canvas cover would in normal use. And unlike the canvas cover being occasionally oriented to the wind (cheating), the windmills are going all the time.

    They must have some logic to their opposition to canvas covers, but I'm not seeing it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2015

  15. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    I'm sure they wouldn't be too keen on parasols either....

    https://www.google.com/search?q=par...oTCJey2sisyMgCFYkclAod4bUMQg&biw=1366&bih=657

    J.
     
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