Stand-Up Rowing Catamaran

I know you want to standing row, but have you considered foot rowing. Waaaaay more efficient and faster and probably also much easier on the body. You also wouldn't have to make those uprights so high, as this is the part that will need to be reinforced the most and hence be heavy.

They do a lot of it in the far East to great effect

 

And here it is.
Look at them go!


That would look quite the thing on the Thames I feel. I'd actually get the hat too.

Sliding seat rowing is probably 75% legs.

I'd say though that the fact that it's clearly faster, but not all of the tour boats are doing it suggests it takes a bit of effort to learn, and it uses up a bit more space in the boat of course.

 

You really couldn't get a more simple way of rowing with your feet - these Vietnamese lads make it look so easy.

Here is another, slightly more complicated way of doing so, with Ron Rantilla's Front Rower -
https://www.frontrower.com/

 

Yes, I saw the Front rower some years ago. Im afraid I remember thinking at the time it was an invention that didn't really need inventing.

You've got Hobie Mirage drives, prop pedal drives, sliding seat rowing, sliding rigger rowing, fixed seat rowing, stand up paddling, kneeling paddling, sitting paddling, Vietnamese foot rowing, yulohs, kayaking and more.

I'm afraid when you factor in the weight, complexity, hassle, cost, transmission losses of the frontrower, most, or all of the above technologies are probably superior to the front rower.

Unless I'm missing the point of it completely?

 

John,
A couple of years ago I built a sliding feet rowing cat.
11' x 5' to fit in my pickup trucks bed.
Worked great.
Several suggestions.
You don't need more than 1' hull width. Mine (my 125#wifes) was 6".
It of course depends upon the rowers weight and the boat weight. And any passangers, etc.
One lesson learned was that both ends of the boat need to be sunk about 1" to make directional stability good. When I had 0" it only took `1-2 strokes to start turning.
There was no issue with the double ended shape causing an issue, and the wake was so minimal as to be non existant.
The boat had a crossbeam on the centerline. There were two longitudinal rails about 2' apart. This allowed the rower, or her husband, to stand in the middle, pick up the whole boat and walk it down to the water.
Depends upon how much the boat weighs. This one was 50# and I thought it over built.

Worry a lot about the comments on row post height, hand position, and length of the oars. Even seated in a "conventional" manner those dimensions had to be changed multiple times to make it work.

I did wish I could row facing forward.

You might want a seat so you could take a rest, or observe the birds, or women, etc.

I can send you a photo if you care.
There were several threads on this but I have lost them.

Marc

 

I remember seeing your row cat on here a while back - a very impressive machine indeed.
Could you post some photos of her here for reference please?

 

I don't have a photo service online.
If you could suggest one that works for you I could try.
This forum software will not allow pictures from my computer, unlike Woodenboat forum.
Ill search for the previous threads, also.

 

What happens when you click the Upload a File button and select a jpg from your computer to upload?

 

Attempt to upload jpeg: I only get a prompt to upload from a URL.
There is no option to "Upload a file".
I tried all the options I saw just now and don't know where to find upload a file.

What am I missing? I'd hate to continue to be an idiot.

Thanks for taking an interest.

 

Clicking the "Image" icon above the text box it causes only the input line for an URL. But clicking the "upload a file" button to the right below the text box I'm able to select a file from my computer.

 

Yes, under the reply area you should see "Post Reply" "Upload a File" and "More Options" buttons. The Upload a File should allow you to select a jpg photo or drawing from your local computer to attach with a post.

 

Per Bajansailor's request.
Pictures from several years ago for a rowing cat with a sliding rigger, home made (and designed, but that seems a little excessive). I can find some pictures of the details if desired.

 

Moderator and Heimfried, thanks for pointing out the obvious.
I've been ignoring that option for about 5 years.