"Allan Bennett" wrote in message
...

Sweep-rowing is... rowing with a single oar per person, as opposed to
sculling which requires two sticks per person.

I am not aware of any local interpretations.

Of course, using a rudder, or a stroke described by 'us' as a rudder, does
not mean it is efficient or effective - just that it might serve a
particular
purpose under certain conditions.

Racing kayakers employ a stern-mounted (usually understern) rudder and
whatever strokes necessary to assist in turning where the rudder is
inadequate.


That was an oversight in multiculturism, sorry.
"Sweep Boats" are used in the western US, commonly on the Salmon River in
Idaho. They are large, flat-bottomed rafts (often solid hull, not inflated)
with a wooden tiller fore and aft. Instead of rowing them like a typical
side-mounted oar, they are used to steer the front and rear of the boat and
make use of current differentials to maneuver. They basically slip sideways
across the river to control the line. They can employ two oarsmen (one for
each tiller) or sometimes a single oarsman works both. See a description and
picture he

http://www.sevyguide.com/sweep.html

I figured that a sweep oarsman would be well-acquainted with the 'feel' of
steering a boat with just the bow tiller, and could tell us more about
steering with a front rudder. Its new (and suprising) to me that there isn't
anything like this on that side of the pond.

-riverman