Oars - curved blade vs. flat blade for performance rowing skiff

Discussion in 'Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics' started by SailorDon, Jun 15, 2015.

  1. SailorDon
    Joined: Apr 2013
    Posts: 137
    Likes: 4, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 34
    Location: Livingston, TX

    SailorDon Senior Member

    Thank you for the compliment on my Thames Rowing Skiff. As you suggested, I won't be changing anything on the boat.

    Others have suggested using a heart rate monitor to assist in determining best stroke rate, catch angle, boat speed, and other things related to rowing performance. Maybe even determine experimentally if curved or straight oar blades are more efficient for my rowing application.

    I use a Garmin Montana 650 GPS to collect data for my rowing. There is a Garmin heart rate monitor (10997 $70) that wirelessly interfaces with the GPS unit. Checking the internet, I find that user ratings of the Garmin heart rate monitor are 2.3 out of 5. Biggest complaint is inaccuracy of heart rate.
    The question is, how do you record an accurate heart rate and synchronize your heart rate monitor data with your rowing performance?

    Just by coincidence, I used my Garmin Montana 650 while going for a 1/2 mile walk yesterday. One of the recorded data points was 2.4 miles out in the lake which translated to walking at over 800 mph, not to mention walking on water! It is the first (and only) time in over 2,000 miles of using this GPS that it has screwed up that badly. And to add to the problem, it took over 3 minutes from the error reading until it corrected itself and got back on my walking track. And that is without the additional complexity of recording heart rate readings.

    I think I will save my $70 and forget heart rate monitors.
     
  2. Squidly-Diddly
    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posts: 1,958
    Likes: 176, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 304
    Location: SF bay

    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    That has got to be the silliest thing I've ever seen.

    American military cadets, or penned veals? Shouldn't they be learning cold water operations during the winter, anyways?

    If you told me about this thing, without location, I'd have figured it could only be some desert bound Saudi oil sheik's compound, or something.
     

  3. Jamie Kennedy
    Joined: Jun 2015
    Posts: 541
    Likes: 10, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 117
    Location: Saint John New Brunswick

    Jamie Kennedy Senior Member

    Collegiate rowers and their rowing coaches and trainers are an odd bunch. :)
    I think most of them focus too much on anaerobic training and not enough on building a solid aerobic base first.
    My approach would be that they have to earn their way into the pain cave. Pain is a privilege. Not a right. ;-)
     
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