TRADITIONAL ROWING

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owing in an easily pulled classic rowboat with a pair ofoars or sculls is enjoyable and exceptionally beneficial for you. Rowing a boat is as good for your mind as it is for your waist and muscles. The comforting rhythm of the stroke promotes a sense of peacefulness as you explore small creeks and islands and row past quiet natural shorelines. Rowing strengthens arm, leg, back and stomach muscles, it increases stamina and cardiovascular endurance. It’s smooth, even exercise with no stress on the joints. A good steady rower in an efficient rowboat can maintain four or five knots for hours at a time. You have the option of inviting friends or family along to share the experience. As you explore you become more fit, more alive, more responsive to your surroundings and more a part of them.Unfortunately people attempting to row boatsdesigned for outboard motors have developed a belief that rowing is hard work and slow going. These marine boats are indeed hard to row in most conditions and difficult to dangerous under oars in high winds and waves. Often their oarlock sockets are insufficiently strong or improperly located adding to the bad experience. Whitehall boats feature integral buoyancy tankscapable of keeping the boat up with crew aboard even when the hull is full of water. The buoyancy is positioned either in the ends of the boat or along the sides. This insures that if the boat is capsized it can be re-righted and will marine float level and thus be capable of being bailed out.Plan your trip and watch for boats your weather particularlywhen rowing in an exposed area. Know what the tide is doing and stage your rowing so that you’re going with the tidal flow. as much as possible. On rivers, row upstream against the current if you are not familiar with the area to avoid rapids or overfalls and make the trip back more relaxing. Rowing considerable distances is easily accomplished once a rower has enough experience. Many people have rowed thousands of miles, even across oceans. In a few hours of good conditions it’s easy to cover twenty or thirty miles. When distance rowing never think about your distant goal, just take it a stroke at a time and enjoy the ride. Rowing is much more efficient than paddlingbecause all the energy is utilized to drive the boat forward. As the oar is pivoted on the oarlock it acts as a long, powerful lever that wastes little energy and allows great distances to be traveled with little strain. Anyone who has attempted to paddle a boat canoe a considerable distance against a strong wind knows how tiring paddling can be.A good rowboat keeps moving well between strokes. It also tracks along a straight course when rowed evenly. A boat from 12 to 17 feet in length is ideal, with double positions on boats 14 feet and over. Older designs from before the age of the internal combustion engine for boat are excellent rowboats. Whitehalls are probably the best known. It is notable that the most efficient boats are often the most attractive. A lways leave word of your planned destinationand time of return with someone responsible.
Always haveyour personal flotation device (PFD) in the boat if not on. I Double station position craft such as the Whitehall n most places this is a legal requirement. Keep lifejacketson small children. Have a bailer or a small bucket aboard and a small sounding device such as an air horn or a whistle. These may also be legally required. If you wish to change places while rowing be sure the boat is stable enough. To do so safely, keep your weight low and centered in the boat as much as possible Spirit are ideal for tandem rowing. It’s great to be ableto spell each other off and then really put on the speed together. In tandem rowing the person sitting in the bow position copies the stroke rate of their partner, staying carefully in time. Think of it as a slow, rhythmic dance for two.

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