Jerry, Could this be done on the M17? If so, whereabouts on the coaming (I mean distance between cabin-bulkhead and stern) would you locate the oarlock socket? Thanks, Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Montgomery To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 3:00 PM Subject: Just toss it overboard! How about one long sweep oar that you use standing up, facing forward, steering with the rudder, holding the tiller between your legs? The oar socket could be bolted to the outside of the coaming at the top. This has been done on other boats, and I thought about doing it myself back when I was young. Found a phone number for someone in Minnesota, I believe, that made two-piece oars but couldn't get them to answer the phone. Too much like me; probably sitting out in the sun swilling 32 1/2 degree beer. How about oars made for whitewater rafting? Colorado River Supply and Northwest River Supply are two sources. Jerry ----- Original Message ----- From: IDCLLC@aol.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 7:24 AM Subject: Just toss it overboard! In a message dated 10/28/2003 3:56:40 AM Central Standard Time, mazemusic@yahoo.com writes: Thanks, Doug. I am curious to hear how the sculling works. So...NO ONE has rowed an M-15? -Rusty The tough thing about adapting a Montgomery for rowing would be the freeboard. You want to be down close to the water to create an efficient entry angle for the oar. This is why many owner built designs have rowing ports that can be opened or closed as necessary. Unfortunately, the thick coamings of a Monty would make such modification difficult or impossible, and you'd still be sitting pretty high due to the self draining cockpit design. Still, I suppose you could try it with extra long oars...It's said that Butcher Boy, a turn of the century workboat, was fast to row, and there's evidence that Lyle Hess drew inspiration from its legendary design. I've got oar locks to mount on my P-15 (which has similar drawbacks, but not quite as extreme since it's a smaller boat), but I haven't gotten around to putting them on. A friend of mine rows his Potter miles at a time with 8' oars, but he's an extraordinary fellow. We rely on a Minn Kota 42 for maneuvoring and sometimes propulsion in calms. It's powered by a tiny U-1 battery, only thirty amps! How do we get away with this? First, we never have current to deal with. Second, mostly it's used to maneuvor in and out of docks, launch ramps, etc. Third, when we have some distance to go, even a mile or two, we use low power, which is vastly more efficient, and we're patient. BTW, the trolling motor works wonderfully for motor sailing in light fluky air, again on a low setting, like 2 or 3 out of a range of 5. It's dead quiet, you know. Under these conditions, the motor gets reved up when the wind pipes up, and makes makes me wonder if the motor turns into a generator and starts recharging the battery. Depends on the motor design, I'm told...its an area of development I'd love to pursue, if I had the time. Cheers Steve Tyree, P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann"