----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 10:24
AM
Subject: Just toss it overboard!
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"