Monday, August 29, 2011

What to consider before building your row boat

By Martin Reid


So you want to build your own row boat and that is a great project for you to tackle. You need to know though that there are specific things that should be included in the plans to make the row boat easy to maneuver and to handle properly. With a row boat there are a pair of oars connected to the boat fitted into a metal ring then the person pulls on the oars through the water to make the boat move so this would make a row boat different than a paddle boat. There are some specifics which need to be considered when building a row boat and they are as follows.

When a row boat has a specific design there are some factors which determine whether it will work in the water like it should. There are some rules which are imperative that you follow to get all the components correct when you are building this boat. There should be a good balance in a row boat which is well designed.

1. WATERLINE BEAM-The waterline beam has to have a balance of the width of the boat. When you build the boat with the width too narrow the boat will be tippy and the people in the boat will have trouble when some winds come up. There is a possibility that they could fall out quite easily. Then if it is built with the waterline beam too high it will cut the speed which you are able to travel to be much slower.

Then there is the possibility if the freeboard is too low then another problem happens the boat will take on water even if the waves are of a moderate height. It has to be just right for the boat to handle properly.

Length and width ratio-If you want the perfect dimensions of a boat then when the structure needs some stability a boat should be longer so that it will also be much easier to row and to keep it on course where you want to go. The ratio is so important then and it is very imperative that this rule is followed to keep it safe and easy to handle. The plan for a row boat for the ratio should be 1-4 width/length ratio. That is the ratio for most row boats and that will keep the boat on an even keel.

The row boat should have a design which will help it to row easily and to keep the water from coming in too much. Look for these specifics when you are looking to buy a row boat plan to make for yourself. You are going to enjoy building your own row boat as long as you stick to the plans that you buy and that the plans are very explicit about the details which we have discussed here. You would want to get the most out of the whole experience that is possible so that when you have finished building your row boat you will be pleased to take some others out for a ride and show them what you have accomplished.




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