New rower-just got an Alden Ocean shell

[The Blacksmith]

Hey all,
I just picked up a used Alden Ocean shell (been rowing a Pygmy Boats Wineglass Wherry for a long time) and it is way harder than my dory. Much tippier, and needs much more finesse to go. Any helpful hints that you can point me in the direction of??
Thanks,
Mark
P.S. Member of Timbuktoo, and did the Blackburn this year in my wherry-4 hrs 33 min. Not bad for a 110 lb boat with a 4 foot beam

[gregsmith01748]

Try getting "the art of sculling". It's a great book.

Also, if you post a video of you rowing to here or the UK blogs, there are some fantastic rowers who will give you feedback.

BTW: I'm really impressed that you could row a 110lb boat for 4 and a half hours. Sounds like a real killer.

[Bob S.]

BTW: I'm really impressed that you could row a 110lb boat for 4 and a half hours. Sounds like a real killer.

Since the Blackburn Challenge is 20+ miles, yes. A 4 1/2 mile row in a heavy skiff is not a killer if it is done at a leisurely speed, but in this case, at about 4 knots, it was definitely not leisurely.

Bob S.

[PaulG]

Good for you. I row on the Merrimack in an Echo. if you live in Massachusetts drop me a PM and maybe we could meet up to row at first on some local lakes. If you have done the Blackburn you will pick it up quickly. Take a look at IROW.org for more information on open water rowing.

Paul

[The Blacksmith]

The Blackburn was awesome-I had a great time. Competetive, but everyone was really friendly. I chased a 2 man dory team
for about 5 miles,caught them, rowed alongside for a mile or so and when I passed them they said "just don't drink all the beer at the feast before we cross the line!" And it was hard-I was beat at the finish-could hardly get out of the boat
But, getting back to the point, I think I will get it before long-it's just way tippier an a LOT more sensitive than the Dory. If you'd like to see some pics, I posted a couple on the timbuktoo team page after the race. I'd like to do the Hudson River Challenge in the Alden, but I don't think I'll be ready for that by Sept 8th skill wise.

[Bob S.]

The balance is mainly a matter of practice, lots of it. Another point is that in a narrow boat with outriggers for the oars, the oars themselves are an important factor in keeping the boat balanced. In the single sculls, letting go of one of the oar handles is an invitation to capsize. Wherries aren't that sensitive of course, but it is something that needs to be kept in mind.

It might take a while to get use to the idea that use of a moving seat means the the legs are now doing most of the work. It will probably take a while to get your legs conditioned to this. The arms and back don't have to work quite as hard anymore and there is less need for a long back swing.

Feathering is another item. Some dory or skiff rowers might do it, but my impression is that most do not. A boat with a rolling seat and outriggers can be rowed without feathering and that is sometimes done as a drill (rowing with squared blades) - but it is regarded as one of the toughest drills to do. For most rowing in such boats, feathering is the standard procedure.

Bob S.

[The Blacksmith]

The feathering is the hard part for me, but practice will help. I've never had to do it in my wherry-it's an extremely stable boat. I've done 4-1/2 million meters on my erg in the past year and a half, so my legs can take the exercise. I learned the "don't let go of the oars" thing as I almost capsized immediately after doing so Thank you for the suggestions-all are welcome-I appreciate the help.
Mark

[Bob S.]

The feathering is the hard part for me, but practice will help.

Note that there are at least two ways to do it - wrist drop and finger roll. My first introduction to feathering was in sweep rowing at the uni in 1942 and it was strictly wrist drop. I didn't have a opportunity to do any sculling until the late 1980s. I took my first lessons at Long Beach in 1989 and the instructor taught us to use the finger roll. She said that the wrist drop could cause carpal tunnel syndrome. I had a deuce of a time trying to switch over from wrist drop to finger roll. Later I talked about it with one of my 40s teammates who had been a sculler in his high school days in the 30s and was later the head coach at our uni. He had never done anything other than the wrist drop for both sweep and scull and his high school sculling was at the same club where I had my lesson. I suppose the the carpal tunnel concern is something that has come up in the intervening years.

I have looked at a number of videos of elite scullers checking for that and I see that both are in use. It would probably be a good idea to talk to several different coaches to get a feel as to which would be the best for you.

Bob S.