CS 17 rowing position?

[Jim Stumpf]

The natural place for a rower to set is on the thwart but with the mizzen in place it doesn't seem feasible. When folks are rowing away from a dock or mooring all rigged up where are you rowing from? I've seen the heated  :grin: discussions regarding outboard power so some folks must be doing a fair amount of oar-men-ship (is that a word?  :shock:)  Some input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

[Randy Jones]

Jim,

I'll bite. The short answer is the forward rowing position.

I put one set of oar locks about 9" astern of the back edge of the thwart, and another set center-to-center 32" forward of the first set.  The rear oarlocks are only used with the mizzen mast out (moved to the forward step) and I'm rowing to get somewhere. The forward set of oarlocks can be used with the mizzen in place and the oarsman sitting on the centerboard case. Rowing from the forward position is not as comfortable but is easy because you don't have to move anything. 

Most of the time I get away with a canoe paddle for docking and avoid even getting the oars out.  Just yesterday a friend suggested using one of those long paddles for the stand up surf boards, so I'm gonna try that next.   

I've followed the oar and motor debate on the site and respect both views.  No right answer really since it really depends upon where you sail and your level of patience.       

[Ray Frechette Jr]

I have a pair of 9 foot sweeps and a pair for 3 foot canoe paddles.

The Canoe paddles are used for close in work to and from docks when it is not practical to sail to or away and are generally limited to a couple hundred feet of movement.

For rowing withthe sweeps I have two row stations set up.

One at mizzen thwart seat and other forward of that.  If I am going to row a fairly long distance in dead calm but I don't want to move mizzen mast (I have third reefing step in boat just in case I want to move mizzen mast out of the way)out of the way I would throw a board across centerboard trunk  and use forward station.

Most of the time though I wrap the strap of a floatable cushion around the tiller extender if I am solo and place that cushion alongside hull side.  I sit on Leeward side of hull if their is even a whisper of wind to heel her over to fill the sails with gravity.

I then row with one oar on the leeward side and I will move my throwable pillow fore and aft to adjust steering to keep me going straight with using only one oar.

I can keep the boat moving along at 1.75 knts with minimal effort this way all by myself.  And once I get even 2 knts apparent I can move the boat up through the fleet at row sail event under sail alone and induce sail envy when I am beam reaching with the staysail up.

[Jim Stumpf]

Thanks for the info, this helps a great deal. I had originally done a search for oar lock placement and did not find much but later thought to search rowing and did find more info and your guys responses confirmed and added to what I found.

Is there a need for a removable rowing seat/thwart forward (or possibly a fixed station) for a raid or an event like the NC or Everglades challenge? It seems the trunk would become uncomfortable pretty quickly. I will be rolling the boat upright next week and will start laying out hardware and I am thinking ahead to placement conflicts.

Thanks Jim

[wkisting]

Jim,

If it were me and I had oarlocks in the forward position described above, I would make a simple padded seat with a slotted bottom that slides over the CB case. Then you would be very comfortable for extended rowing, and with some thoughtful sizing, it could be small, light, and easy to stow the seat when not in use. I suspect you would also find it more comfortable if the seat boosted you higher up also, though I'm judging based on the deck height of my CS20, which may be different than the CS17.