manual propulsion

[Hirilonde]

I intentionally left the rowlocks off my Lapwing.  No matter which rowing station I considered setting up I did not like that the row locks would be in the way of on deck seating.  So for the first season I just brought a canoe paddle with me.  I found the Lapwing sails so well in light air that I can't imagine many times I will not be able to sail back to the ramp, even if slowly.  I use the paddle only for getting off a lea shore ramp or to come in the last bit of a weather shore ramp.  I carry a teeny back up paddle in the forward storage (under the fore deck).  But I wanted a proper paddle for maneuvering  near the ramp and if I did get caught in absolutely no wind.  I decided the best place to store the paddle was along the centerboard trunk on the port side (trunk is off-center to starboard).  So I designed and built a paddle that is as long as possible and fits there without getting in the way of the fore hatch.  This meant it was a few inches shorter than ideal, but quite fine.

 

 

Just need to make a couple brackets to hold it along the trunk now.

 

This winter I will be installing some kind of floor board system in the aft cockpit with a foot rail system of some sort to put my feet against when on the deck along with hiking straps.  I need some places for drinks and such to be stored while sailing as well.  I am in the think and design phase at the moment.

[Chick Ludwig]

Very nice!

[meester]

That's a handsome paddle.  What woods did you use?

 

Bob

[frowley]

Positively gorgeous - nice work!

[Hirilonde]

Thanks guys.

 

if you ask a cook what they make scratch soup out of they say they just cleaned out the refrigerator.  That is what i did in my shop Bob.  The paddle is Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Western Red Cedar scraps laminated and a Teak tip mortised in to protect the soft material when pushing off and other abusive practices.

[Action Tiger]

You left off one blade!

Glad your sailboat is working out so nicely.

[Chick Ludwig]

...you left off the propeller.

[Action Tiger]

Propeller!? Curse your eyes, man. We're talking SAILboats.

There's a time and a place for sputtery mess makers, and sweet little daysailers ain't one. Now a Poulsbo boat...

That said, you should see some of his two bladed paddles, if you haven't.

[Chick Ludwig]

"Curse your eyes"---sounds like a line out of a Richard Bolitho novel. Surely you've read one of the bolithos. Anyway, I just might get inspired to make oars for Turtler. I haven't seen Dave's doubles, but they must be mighty purty judging by the single blade.

[Scott Dunsworth]

Chick Don't make them, if you do you will eventually be tempted to use them. Oars are a horrible invention for modern times. Never touch one or look at one with lustful eyes. There are curses that come with them, like aching muscles and the very liberal thought that no smoke from an engine is good, plus many more unpleasing things.

 

Run from the evil desire to build such a horrible device and embrace an Evinrude!!!!!!

The smell of burnt oil is much more pleasant than the thought of killing thy liver with Advil.

 

Scott

[Steve W]

Nice work. How long did you make it?

[Chick Ludwig]

Well Scott, pretty much my sentiments too. But I no longer have my old friends Evin Rude, or John Rude. I now have a sweet little girl, Sue Zuki. She's very pleasant, has a nice voice, and smells sweet. And is easy on the liver.

[Don Silsbe]

Maybe I'm the lone voice in the wilderness, but I love rowing.  If the boat is light and fair, and designed for rowing, there is no better way to move along-- except for sailing, of course.  A pull and a glide, with no obnoxious noise or noxious fumes.  Do realize that I could row a boat before I could ride a bike.  (My hand is on the oar in this photo.)  That might have something to do with my affection for rowing.

[Don Silsbe]

What about Toe-Hat Sue, Chick?

[Hirilonde]

 I haven't seen Dave's doubles, but they must be mighty purty judging by the single blade.

Thanks Chick, here are a few shots:

 

A euro paddle:

 

Some Western Greenland inspired paddles:

 

 

Maybe I'm the lone voice in the wilderness, but I love rowing.  If the boat is light and fair, and designed for rowing, there is no better way to move along-- except for sailing, of course.  A pull and a glide, with no obnoxious noise or noxious fumes.  Do realize that I could row a boat before I could ride a bike.  (My hand is on the oar in this photo.)  That might have something to do with my affection for rowing.

I love rowing too Don.    I used to tandem row as a waterfront counselor at Scout camp as a kid. I have loved it since.  I made not having an engine a primary parameter for my boat. I just can't find a good place for rowlocks on my Lapwing and sailing comfort and being able to hike from all locations take priority.  Maybe I need to design a removable set that will work?

 

Nice work. How long did you make it?

Thanks Steve, I have making paddles down to less than 8 hours total.

[Steve W]

I guess I should learn to write better.....I meant length of paddle.

[Action Tiger]

Dave, my favorite one is still the dark one with blonde darts!

Maybe a yuloh or some such is your answer. Sounds like your boat would scull like a dream, and you could make a two-piece break apart oar. Also, the pivot, or row lock, whatever it is in the case of a sculling oar, would be on the aft deck, so no hiking issues.

I scull a lot of times when we go down little creeks looking for the fishes...

Or, maybe tholepins? Worst case scenario you have some blocks of wood on deck, but maybe not even that. Heck, you could even row Med style with only one pin.

Or, I'll shut up, and you can use your pretty paddle. I recently made a single paddle for my pirogue with an exaggerated Greenland style blade. It actually looks like an old whaleboat oar, or somesuch. I just can't to wide blades at all, any more...

[Action Tiger]

You can see my paddle is extra classy, too. Heh heh.

[PAR]

Manual propulsion are you kidding? A discretely located two blade propeller, in the paddle blade would be the logical answer. A lithium ion battery from a cordless drill, maybe the motor from the same . . . Boat building is about problem solving not creating and using a paddle is making some, not fixing any . . .

[Chick Ludwig]

PAR, I LIKE it. Looking forward to seeing your design drawings of your "electric paddle".