Does anyone have a canoe set up with a rowing rig ?

[DavidSteber]

This is my 1952 Grumman that I designed and installed an oar lock and bench seat in. I sit facing forward to row. This thing is fast and very maneuverable. I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to show you what I did in case you are still thinking about this idea.

 

[Keeled Over]

I am interested in this topic, although I would like to face stern to stretch my back when rowing for exercise and facing rear for trolling. During covid I contacted a company (Wiseman Trading?) that had production currently paused. I got on the list for contact but never heard from them. I'll try again but if anyone had any practical experience with a rearward facing rig I would love to hear about it.

Thank you!

 

[jdeerfoot]

I remember a friend who had several of the older model of Grumman Sport boats which were kind of a hybrid of canoe and row boat. They came with oar locks and it was fun to row them - a bit sluggish to get going but they would move out nicely once you got them going.

 

[M Clemens]

I am interested in this topic, although I would like to face stern to stretch my back when rowing for exercise and facing rear for trolling. During covid I contacted a company (Wiseman Trading?) that had production currently paused. I got on the list for contact but never heard from them. I'll try again but if anyone had any practical experience with a rearward facing rig I would love to hear about it.

Thank you!

Ever see one of the Cunningham Chironomid rigs? This one is for sale not far from you in Honeoye Lake.

 

[Benson Gray]

A broad variety of these have been made over the years. The link below has more examples.

Benson

Rowing Seat Found

A friend sent me this. I wasnt sure if it had been mentioned yet. http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/808404425.html He also sent this report from Tybee Island, GA about his old Bell sailing canoe. I went for a wonderful 10 mile sail (in three hours) in my canoe, up the Back River to the...

forums.wcha.org

 

[Tsuga8]

I too am interested in rowing but don't care much for going backwards. This is what intrigues me about Venetian-style rowing. I think standing up makes the biomechanical advantages similar to traditional rowing, with power emanating from the legs and core. I'm still pondering whether a standing, forward facing rowing set-up could be rigged for a canoe....

 

[Keeled Over]

https://www.springcreek.com/ Put one my 17' Grumman for an ADK trip I just returned from. Might use this for all flatwater trips.

 

[Dana]

Some years ago I almost acquired an old St. Lawrence River skiff in need of restoration that a friend was going to give to me, but I really didn't have the time or space to work in it so I passed. Cool cross between a rowboat and a canoe (random web image).

 

[RatAssassin]

I have a guilty pleasure canoe. And Old Town Discovery 17 with a little 12" square stern. I have a Suzuki 2.5hp motor also. Its on a trailer and my wife loves it for camping out of on bigger water.
It came with 2 oars and oarlocks by the center seat.
The thing absolutely rocks across the water. Crazy easy......crazy fast.

 

[Sedges]

Here is my drop-in rowing rig. I have made two of these to fit woodstrip Prospectors. With 7 foot oars I can easily match speed with tandem paddlers. It is simply, strong and very well secured to the boat. The outriggers put the fulcrum 42 inches apart.


Simple, quick to mount. The solo seat remains attached to the outriggers. The outriggers attach to the portage yoke using the adjustable pads with a little longer bolt. It also attaches at the gunwale using a side-mount oar lock and a carriage bolt imbedded in the laminated oak outrigger.



In this boat, the outrigger puts the fulcrum in the right place to row from the bow seat facing the stern as well. With a partner in the stern to steer it is very pleasant to carry on a conversation while underway and the oarsman doesn’t have to look over the shoulder to maintain direction.

The 7 foot oars fit nicely between the seat and outriggers to carry.

 

[Crawforde]

Thanks for this.
I’m probably going to use it as inspiration to build my own.
I rowed an Adirondack guideboat years ago and am near a lot of lakes now. I enjoyed rowing and still have my oars. Adding some reinforcement to the gunnels to support the oar-lock will be easy to add.

 

[Benson Gray]

I’m probably going to use it as inspiration to build my own.

You may want to go for a full sliding seat as shown below...

Benson

 

[Crawforde]

That is probably a good idea. But since I’ve never rowed on a sliding seat I’m not sure I need it, and am nervous about looking into it enough that I will think I do. . I’m not sure how much I will actually row, probably just a few times a year for fun, maybe hauling a passenger, or out trolling on a large impoundment or lake.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Here is my drop-in rowing rig. I have made two of these to fit woodstrip Prospectors. With 7 foot oars I can easily match speed with tandem paddlers. It is simply, strong and very well secured to the boat. The outriggers put the fulcrum 42 inches apart.
View attachment 158373

Simple, quick to mount. The solo seat remains attached to the outriggers. The outriggers attach to the portage yoke using the adjustable pads with a little longer bolt. It also attaches at the gunwale using a side-mount oar lock and a carriage bolt imbedded in the laminated oak outrigger.
View attachment 158374View attachment 158375

View attachment 158376
In this boat, the outrigger puts the fulcrum in the right place to row from the bow seat facing the stern as well. With a partner in the stern to steer it is very pleasant to carry on a conversation while underway and the oarsman doesn’t have to look over the shoulder to maintain direction.

The 7 foot oars fit nicely between the seat and outriggers to carry.
View attachment 158377

That is a really elegant design!

 

[Sedges]

That is a really elegant design!

Thanks, it came during a particularly creative time in my life. I designed a very simple sailing kit for the same boat.

I enjoy rowing the canoe very much and sometimes like to cover a lot of distance if I get in the groove.

Very useful in the wind, too. The Prospector is pretty deep and gets difficult soloing in a breeze.