Posted by Joe Windsor on July 28, 2006 at 18:49:23 from 84.12.178.90 user Joe.
In Reply to: Re: Let's talk boats!- notches. posted by Pam Adams on July 28, 2006 at 16:41:17:
Pam - bless you for giving me a chance of banging on about sculling!
Notch (or rowlock as suggested - never thought of that) in centre of flat transom of boat. Stand up in boat and rest oar in notch. Now comes the tricky bit. Grasp oar. Twist so blade is at about 45 degrees. Swish oar across from left to right. Twist oar t'other way so it is 45 degrees t'other way and swish oar back again. Wig-wag swiftly. Repeat n times until you get there. Remember to look over shoulder whilst doing all this or you'll crash into something. Simple (!!!)
I was taught this by fishermen in Devon from whom I learned serious boat handling. As a raw teenager, I didn't realise at the time how very kind they were to me. But they taught me so much about boat work and in successive years allowed me to manage their boats without swearing at me - well, not very much!!
Cheers - Joe