designing a fast rowboat

race regulations

Clint,

I'm pretty sure of the rules. You would either go off with the sliding seat boats or what is called the development class. Development class is for boats that don't fit in any easy catagory. they are usually sliders and may have more rowers. What different races consider rigged differs. I'm pretty sure that the blackburn is very strict about oar-on-gunnel, other races are less strict. You can go on the site (Blackburn Challange) and they have their rules posted. in our local races they aren't too strick about riggers. Our current boat has 2" extensions at the forward station and 3-1/2" at the rear station. No one has said anything about it yet. We haven't been up to Maine to do any races, our time is kind of limited, but I do hope to get up north to do a few soon.

 

update

Flotation compartments are in, thwarts are done, floorboards are done but not installed. Inwales are in but not planed to shape. Gunnels are cut to shape and will go on this week. Foot stretchers remain to be done as well as oarlocks. Looks like we'll race her on the 27th, she'll be ugly but more ready to row than we will. We haven't rowed in weeks, spending our time building. A few times on the rowing machine hasn't helped much, and my brother has been on a cruise from California down Baja, through the Panama canal and through the Carribean up to Miami. He won't be in the best shape either. Oh well, the plan will be row hard enough to hurt ourselves and try to win. This race is tough because we start at 1 minute intervals and it is impossible to know how you are doing in relation to the boat that started 5 or 6 minutes behind you. Just row your guts out, keep track of elapsed time and pass as many boats as possible and, maybe, when the times are sorted out find out we've won.

 

Jeff,

Ahhhh, the lament of the weekend warrior. Having a life makes it difficult to focus as we would like ... especially those of us who aren't "amateur athletes" on a sponsor's stipend. Still, the rowing machine is better than nothing, at least those rowing muscles will have some memory of how to function. It sounds like you and your brother rely on inner grit and plain old fashioned "never quit" stubborness to get the job done. My kind of guy! Best of luck on the 27th; just keep passing boats!

 

race day

Charlie,
we will be on the water in the new boat and it's just going to be a tough it out day. Hopefully when it's over we'll have done well. Our big Jersey Skiff is 19' long and weighs 260 pounds plus and is named the 'We're Here".when we show up everyone knows we're there and ready to race. When we did the Blackburn Challange up in Gloucester Ma., only one old guy picked up on the fact that she was named after the Gloucester fishing schooner in Rudyard Kiplings book "Captains Courageous". We had a strong third place finish; only missing 2nd by 26 seconds when two power boats cut in front of us. They in fact did know that we were there. Thanks for your support we'll do our best
Jeff

 

Never seen these little beauties before. Look a little tender however once you know what you're doing would be good fun and good exercise.

http://www.echorowing.com/index.html

 

Echo rowing boat

There was one in the Snow Row in Hull Ma. this winter, I'm not sure how it did, but I think it wasn't spectacular. might have been a new rower because it looks like it should go good. Still, it is up against full sliding seat boats like Alden ocean shells so it had better be good.

 

update

FINALLY!!!! rowed the new boat. A few glitches: we sit a bit deeper in the water than we hoped for, a couple of pin-hole leaks that weep a bit, my oarlocks are Ok, my brothers are too low and not enough spread. All easily fixed. We had no GPS, so can't report on actual speeds attained. All we could judge by was ease of motion and the stern wave. She glides well and at maximum power there is a very small stern wave that is well seperated from the stern. There is a bit more noise from the bow than I would like to hear, indicating a less than perfect entry but I think we've got a good potential increase in speed. My Gps (10 years old) is out of service and repair is a minimum of $75.00, so I may just buy a new one to have for the race to help judge our time. If we can see we're pulling a good turn of speed, it will be a great moral booster and pump up our adreniline and give us a little hit of power. Hopefully I'll have pictures of the race to post next week.

 

I've been rowing for about 10 years. It has changed my life...love it. The only fast boat I've been able to row in slightly choppy water is the Maas24. Anything faster than that will end up on the shelf unless you live on a very well protected pond:
http://www.maasboats.com/maas24.htm

 

Nord: all of us will be rooting for you this weekend. Try not to bust a gut or have a stroke or something. Many of us have become addicted to this project, so we can hardly wait to hear of the result. No matter the result, do get back to us.

Best of luck.

 

TOO fine an entry/too fat aft?

Charlie, et. al.,

As you know I have designed a 3-strake rowing faering (17' LOA, 15'6" LWL, 4' beam, 2'10" beam w.l.) and have lofted her out. When I drew the waterline on my plans I couldn't believe how fine the entry was...I could hardly get the batten to make the hollow of the waterline forward...I pushed it out a bit and it felt better. I plan to draw the waterline on the loft floor but it'll be about the same. How fine can I be foward? What are the effects? Is it good bad? How do I know when it is too fine? Same goes for aft?

Cheers,
Clint

 

Jeff,

As messabout said, by sharing your thoughts and asking for help you've created a group of supporters "addicted" to your project. Your sea trials went well, it seems, a little tweaking should only make it better.

Row your heart out, Jeff, and let us know how you do!

 

Clint,

From just my own experience, the fastest boats I've rowed and paddled have had very fine entry. Your own thoughts on keeping the beam narrow and lengthening the waterline sound good. I'd prefer Flashboat over Bob, just my own opinion.

 

If you plan to use the boat in open water, it will help to carry some flare well forward, otherwise the boat will be very wet, with the possibility of actually shipping solid water. The same goes for the stern; long and lean = higher hull speed, but you want enough flare so she'll lift easily to following seas.

Pretty basic stuff, but it works, at least in my experience.

 

fine entry

Right Charlie, the fine entry is a real plus and the comments about bouyancy are right on the mark. One additional thing to remember is that you need enough bouyancy forward to allow a seating position well forward of midships. If your oars are too far aft, the extra effort required to keep your bow into the wind will kill you. We've got yet another person on the thread. The Maas 24 isn't the type of boat I'm working with, but any and all rowers are welcome to add their two bits worth. RE: the race, oarlocks are moved, not going to worry about the pin hole leaks, we're lower than we hoped, but a couple of inches higher than the old boat, so we're good there. Good plan: no strokes or heart attacks, hope to finish well. It would be a killer to do less well than with the old boat. My helper at work blessed me with a bit of the flu, so I'm resting as much as possible and doing lots of fluids. Curse it!! Oh, well "row hard,no excuses". I'm trying to get someone to take some pictures of the race to post next week. you guys deserve a peek at the festivities. Can't tell all of you how great an experience this forum has been, maybe we can keep the thread going. Hopefully Clint will have some good things as his boat progresses.

 

What he said.

Oh, btw, I more or less backed out of the design arguments for the moment because the sort of boats that interest me are different to what you need and I didn't want to be seen as knocking your boat when you're trying to get enthused about it. If you decide to build another one at some point though....