Once I rowed a dinghy with an interesting seat

You couldn't call it a thwart, as it ran front to back, along the centerline, at seat height, about 8" wide. It was easy to slide a little along it while rowing, to get a bit longer stroke without the complication of a sliding seat. It went from just astern of mid-boat forward to a forward thwart. As I remember, it worked well, yet I haven't seen one since. The dinghy was in Hingham, MA three plus decades ago.

 

By ending just astern of midships, there was still a place in the centerline of the boat to put one's first foot onto as one stepped aboard.

 

A fore and aft thwart. They are indeed nice. There problem is centreline thwarts make it very hard to " walk" fore and aft in a small craft and keep your weight on centreline. They work...If it suits your style of rowing go for it. I find them a bit clumsy.

Its also possible to install a traditional thwart that you can move fore and aft on its risers. Fine tune. Also Very handy for "forward" facing ,pushing, in close quarters.

 

Michael, Have you seen Phil Bolger's #526 long light dory, with its frame for sliding thwarts forward and aft? I wonder how that works out in practice.

 

No. I havent seen it. Bolger is very clever so Im certain that its worthwhile to investigate.


In general I dont like a sliding seat on a fast utility skiff. Utility skiffs need to be easy to jump around in...ie stand on the thwart. Also.... you don't always row by yourself. When loaded you naturally need to shift your weight and rowing station.

 

Here's a long dory photographed as it was built:
http://www.kolbsadventures.com/long_dory_1.htm

Where are you in Spain? I was once in Madrid for two months of high school.

Bolger's thwarts on the #526 long dory don't slide in use, but can be slid to adjust for different rowing positions, I think - I haven't seen the plans yet.

 

A long seat that runs fore and aft works great for varying loads in a small boat. It can allow you to keep the boat balanced when traveling alone or with passengers.

You may need oar locks in multiple locations to match your seating position.

C.O.

 

movie The Boy in Blue (1986) was about invention of sliding seat

and according to movie before that they used grease!

I imagine with today's silicon compounds you could have a decent 'dry' slider.

 

Those Finnish competitive rowing boats have strict rules that prohibit sliding seats, but the serious rowers use slippery pants on some kind of smooth seat.

 

Fore and aft seating





http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/08/designs/catskiff/index.htm

 

Very enjoyable boats to look at.

 

Well, that little catamaran dinghy is a great example. (Is there that much snow in australia?)
I guess it's a well-known concept, from seeing that, and seeing this thread too:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-building/manies-shiny-dinghy-26675.html

 

Hannu, yet again!

 

Hannu is my hero.