Open Water Shells
Barbara Ryan
live 3 blocks from the Chesapeake Bay, which can be pretty rough much of the
time. I have looked online at the Peinert Dolphin and Alden Star, as well
as the Maas Aero, (which I have rowed in). I would like a boat that I can
row often without having to worry about the conditions and that I can launch
easily by myself at the beach (I do have a portager that I use for my
kayak). I would use this primarily for training --- I do have access to a
racing quad and a double through my rowing team. I have a 6'2" husband and
14 year-old daughter that might like to use it, but that is secondary
(..aren't I selfish!)
Any suggestions?
Barb Ryan
Paul Roberts
rough,and I really enjoy the combination of stability and decent speed that
the Aero gives.I have also rowed a Maas 24 on the Bay and while it can be
rowed in very rough conditions by an advanced sculler it takes a bit of
getting used to.6'2" isn't to large for the Aero depending on weight,and
again 14 yrs. old would probably not be too small. Paul
Barbara Ryan <barb...@home.com> wrote in message
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Ken
for rough days (and winter). There are others similar to the Dolphin,
including the Burgashell Thames Trainer.
The common in-between boats are the Alden Star, the Maas Aero and the
Little River Cambridge.
The 24 footers are the most like racing shells. Beam seas can throw
you off and slow you way down.
The Alden shells can be rowed energetically in almost anything and
will even surf. But they are slow. They have no skegs and can be
beached with impunity.
The in-between boats are a mix. If you can only accommodate one shell
and conditions are highly variable, then a middle boat makes sense.
Ken
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Joan Knapp
sculling.
I purchased an Alden Star - the carbon version - a few months ago - and
it *does* have a skeg (the Alden Ocean Shell does not have the skeg). I
chose the Alden over the Peinert Dolphin and Maas 24 mainly because I had
the opportunity to row the Star locally before I purchased it. The only
negative thing I have heard against the Peinert Dolphin is that it is
*unstable,* whatever that means.
My choice was between the Star and the Alden26. I don't intend to race
although I would enjoy the challenge of a racing shell. I am working up
to a flat-water racing shell through my club so I didn't have an urgent
need to purchase a racing shell. I knew that if I purchased the '26,' I
would probably spend a lot of time in the water during the summer while I
learned to row it. That was not the deterrent.
I was looking for a boat which would provide sufficient challenge over my
Alden Ocean Shell which I had long outgrown technically. I wanted to be
able to row year round, especially during the winter when my local lake
may be half frozen. This will require some special precautions -
appropriate clothing, life jacket, staying close to the shore etc. - but
will allow me to row alone between club practices.
My trial row was on Lake Lanier in choppy waters with a 10 -15 mi. NW
wind. I felt quite confident rowing out into the open water although,
since it was my first venture, I did use a life jacket just in case.
I've taken it out many times in the last few months both in mirror-smooth
conditions and in choppy conditions with fairly strong cross-winds. I
caught several crabs while I was adjusting to it but have pulled up
quickly enough and have never ended up in the water. I have also pursued
my favourite hobby of retrieving fishing floatation bobbers which have
been caught in branches above water and reeds/brush at water line. This
requires a good bit of maneuvering of the boat into tight spots and
pulling hard to release the fishing line/bobber which is tangled in the
brush. [Me=7, bobbers=0]. In both situations, particularly the second,
the boat has threatened to dump me. I don't think that the boat will
flip upside down. If it does anything, it's going to roll to one side
and slide me into the water.
The Star may not be rated as a fast boat but I can assure that it moves
quite rapidly enough when I'm rowing away from an advancing
thunderstorm. It's been a lot of fun. It's also given me the great
advantage of being able to go out and concentrate on technique without
the distractions inherent in a team practice. If I start to make
mistakes I can stop, regroup, and start out again at my own pace.
My advice is that you row the boat before you purchase - even if this
means a little bit of travel before you make your choice. It's a pretty
big investment which is very rewarding if it is a boat you are
comfortable on but a real dog if you don't enjoy it.
Good Luck!
Rowman
As a person VERY familiar with the Peinert Dolphin (I own one) and our club,
the Narragansett Boat Club in Providence, RI, I can say that they are NOT
*unstable* as you put it. Sure the Star is somewhat more stable which has
nothing do with balance or skill, but because of flatness. The Star is
flat, wide and shorter than the Dolphin and *slow* compared to the Dolphin.
As far as ability in open water, I just rowed mine in Provincetown MA last
week in 2-4' waves with up to 15'' chop in between the waves. Although it
wasn't all that great of a row as far as speed, the boat and I handled it
quite well; I did have the bailer open most of the time though.
I do not have any interest in the Peinert Boat Works other than believing in
and owning some of their products.
Cheers,
Gary
"Joan Knapp" <grua...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
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Joan Knapp
I grazed a pilon when I thought I had cleared them. Committed the heinous
sin of letting go of the starboard oar in an effort not to end up in the
water. I was at a full stop and, feeling that the shell was stable, lent
over slowly to grab the oar handle.
Well it doesn't flip anyway. It does roll. But instead of sliding me off
into the water, it rolled me off - slow motion. Quite a strange feeling
really. Apparently looked the same from shore where my husband had a
'ringside' seat for the entertainment.
Must admit that the water was gloriously warm. And I had planned to do this
sometime anyway - just for the experience. What better time?
I also theorized some time ago that it would be easier to swim beside the
shell to get to shore. That didn't work well either. Found that the best
method was to swim behind the stern of the shell. Made the mistake of
pushing the boat ahead of me - then it feels very lonely. Feels much better
with the boat in hand.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Joan
Joan Knapp wrote:
> <snip>
> .... I don't think that the boat will flip upside down. If it does
> anything, it's going to roll to one side and slide me into the water.
> <snip>
>
Ewoud Dronkert
> I also theorized some time ago that it would be easier to swim beside the
> shell to get to shore. That didn't work well either. Found that the best
> method was to swim behind the stern of the shell.
Why didn't you try and climb back in?
Ewoud
Triton Utrecht
Tim Granger
Of course in cold water (ie almost all of the time) it's better
not to swim. Swimming makes the cold water pass over your body,
cooling much faster than if you just stay still and wait to be
rescued. For this reason, it helps if the boat will float when
entirely swamped. Anyone for a janousek?!!
Tim