On May 4, 8:49*am, Jim Willemin wrote:
Vic Smith wrote :





On Mon, 04 May 2009 05:45:24 -0500, Jim Willemin
wrote:

"Don White" wrote in
:

"Jim Willemin" wrote in message
6.97.131...

snip

I was laughing all the way home, and feeling very smug and almost
righteous. *Proud of my little boat, too - she was more than up to
the rescue.

Good for you. *That row might have intimidated more than one pseudo
boater in this group.

It was sort of a Luddite victory - I'm a firm believer in the efficacy
of simple machines, and am delighted to score one for the Neanderthals
who like to take things slow and quiet. *But I dunno about the
intimidation part, Don - maybe so, but given a choice I like to think
most folks will do the right thing (as long as their reputation is not
at risk). Besides, it gives one such a warm fuzzy feeling to be the
Hero to the Rescue. *It was not as dramatic as hearing 'Mayday,
mayday' over the radio, but the rush was there.

You must have felt like a one-man mini-Coast Guard. (-:
I agree about the "simple machines."
I rented a lot of small boats that I'd throw my little 5 hp motor on.
Always checked that the oars and oarlocks were in shape, and refused
and switched a few boats.
I began fishing as a kid rowing, many, many miles, and that's stuck
with me. *Never towed anybody though.
Don't think I'd be comfortable with a bigger beamier power boat
without a kicker along. *Just how I am.
I've seen some talk about kicker mounts on the Carolina Skiffs.
Don't know much about it, but if I get one I'll look into it.
Always been fascinated by how the gondolas are propelled by one long
oar at the stern, but that's probably not practical for a beamy boat.

--Vic

Look into how the Chinese propel mondo big sampans with a single
sculling oar over the stern - the oars are called yuli. *Granted, those
yuli are on the biggish side for larger boats, but there are quite a few
anecdotes of sculling good-sized sailboats - sailboats it would be
impractical to row.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yeah but those boats have a design that makes them easier to skull.
Long and narrow with a trailing end transom, vee bottom etc. I would
think the motor transom of those skiffs might make them harder to
skull, especially in any current or wind..