Maas 24 vs. Aero
Padrow
Being new to sculling, I am still getting my bearings in regard to
various type of rec/open water shells. Could someone please describe the
differences between the Mass 24 and the Maas Aero?
RNZWSCIZRS
I've owned a Maas 24 and a Maas Vancover (Aero with a splash box). A club
I belong to has an Aero that I've rowed several times in open water.
Things to consider. (1) Is stability a factor? If it is, go for the
shorter wider Aero. (2) Where do you row? If you row on flat water or open
water with ocean swells (no chop) the 24 is a great boat. I row on Long
Island Sound and find the bow of the 24 digs into the chop more than the
Aero. The 24 feels more like a racing boat. The Aero has more of a
rec-boat feel. I just sold my 24 and replaced it with a racing single. I
will miss it on rough water days. From my experience you can't go wrong
with a Maas boat. The boats are well made, fun to row and if you decide to
sell, they hold their value very well.
Ken
IMHO, if you are rowing in chop with white caps frequently, neither
boat is "rowable" if you mean full compression and swing, especially
if you are not heading directly upwind or downwind, unless your last
name is Wallenda. Advice to the contary (usually qualified with "It
is a challenge") is misleading.
For the rough stuff and gusty winds, you need adequate beam for
stability -- like 24" minimum. A stubby boat can be rowed faster than
a sleek one in rough conditions because you can get your back into it
on almost every stroke.
Your size makes a big difference, however. A 140 lb. person who is
5'6" tall will find the rec boats much more stable than one who is 230
lbs. and 6'3". And don't be confused by people who talk about rowing
in big seas; swell is not the same as chop. A 10' swell is easier to
row than a 1' chop.
On the other hand, if you row open water and your winds are usually
less than 8 mph, then either of these boats are good performers.
As a practical matter, I have found that as beam increases from 10"
(racing shell) to 13" (24 footer) to 18" (22 footer), the degree of
roughness at which you must abandon good form (swing, full
compression, recovery in the air) goes up, but not by all that much.
The major advantage of the rec boats is that they generally will not
capsize as long as you don't let go of the oars. You can scramble
along but it does not resemble or feel like flat water rowing. A
principal advantage is that you can row to calm waters that would
otherwise be inaccessible.
Ken
RIKAAA
I too, am enamored of Maas boats. I have an Aero and row in rough chop aa
well as flat stuff. Rowing against a freinds (A thin woman) Little River
racing single, she can whip my butt hands down. Only due to my superior
stamina can I beat her in any distance. The Aero tends to be a bit of a
dog when it comes to this.
But, for all around fitness. you cannot beat the Aero. I had it out two
days this week in a foot and a half and it was rowable.
Ken
I left out the key conclusion: since the principal advantage of rec
boats is that they will not flip if you don't let go of the oars, I
see little point in going below the 24', 13" beam types like the Maas
24, Peinert Dolphin, Pro Am 25 or Schoenbrod Sieger.
Among other boats, I have a Vancouver 21 (the forerunner of the Aero
with the same hull) and I almost never use it. Rather, I use my 24
footer (Peinert) until it gets too rough and then I switch to an Alden
Double (tricked out with stiffening cables, raised seat, CII oarlocks
and CIII hatchets), which I row until there is a small craft advisory.
Ken
maris...@gmail.com
Sometimes it is nice just to row and not worry about rocks, or set ! just row!
thanks lots to think about
Henry Law
> On Monday, August 4, 1997 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, Padrow wrote:
>> Being new to sculling
question.
--
Henry Law n e w s @ l a w s h o u s e . o r g
Manchester, England