Rowing a vega
- Thread starter TJBurkett
- Start date
Ask Mike Freeman (Vega Chairman UK) after his exploits at the weekend - I couldn't possibly say what actually happened.....
Steve B
Steve B
I've never tried rowing a Vega but I have often towed one by rowing my 8ft ply
tender usually within harbour but I once towed a vega from the River Orwell to
the Walton Backwaters (with the tide of course) when I got near my destination a
passing boat offered me a tow which I gratefully accepted. As a boy on the River Thames I often watched lightermen rowing loaded barges
across the Thames to their moorings, they used one sweep only of considerasble
length and had enough room to walk back and forth with the sweep.
In China in the fifties I watched people sculling sampans,often of considerable
size and loaded. They used a bent oar with a rope bridle to the inboard end the
oar which was pivoted at the transom, they simply pushed the oar to and fro and
the bridle produced the sculling motion, I think the method was called Yuloh. In
all cases I would think that they used tides and currents to their advantage.
I would think a Vega with its easily driven hull would be childs play , just an
oar over one side and the rudder to correct the course.
Mike
PS I'll leave my exploits of the weekend till another occasion.________________________________
From: TJBurkett tjburkett@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 18 April, 2011 14:00:45
Subject: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
Has anybody ever tried rowing a vega?
tender usually within harbour but I once towed a vega from the River Orwell to
the Walton Backwaters (with the tide of course) when I got near my destination a
passing boat offered me a tow which I gratefully accepted. As a boy on the River Thames I often watched lightermen rowing loaded barges
across the Thames to their moorings, they used one sweep only of considerasble
length and had enough room to walk back and forth with the sweep.
In China in the fifties I watched people sculling sampans,often of considerable
size and loaded. They used a bent oar with a rope bridle to the inboard end the
oar which was pivoted at the transom, they simply pushed the oar to and fro and
the bridle produced the sculling motion, I think the method was called Yuloh. In
all cases I would think that they used tides and currents to their advantage.
I would think a Vega with its easily driven hull would be childs play , just an
oar over one side and the rudder to correct the course.
Mike
PS I'll leave my exploits of the weekend till another occasion.________________________________
From: TJBurkett tjburkett@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 18 April, 2011 14:00:45
Subject: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
Has anybody ever tried rowing a vega?
Many years ago I owned a Morris 26. About the same length as the Vega, but
heavier and beamier. I had a sculling oar for that boat. It was about 12
feet, maybe a little longer. I just hung it off the stern and I could move
the boat at a couple knots with no wind or current. Good exercise too.
On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM, MICHAEL FREEMAN
mikeandv@...wrote:
heavier and beamier. I had a sculling oar for that boat. It was about 12
feet, maybe a little longer. I just hung it off the stern and I could move
the boat at a couple knots with no wind or current. Good exercise too.
On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM, MICHAEL FREEMAN
mikeandv@...wrote:
Herreshoff said the key to rowing a big boat is to be able to walk a step or two with the oar, pushing it. Very long oars (sweeps), maybe just one. It's in "The Complete Cruiser", I believe. His Rozinante was set up to row that way, and I think he said a man could row a Rozinante at 3 knots for say a half hour. Very fine hull, though.Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940
This email is from a law firm and may contain information
that is privileged or confidential. If you suspect
you were not intended to receive this email,
please delete it and contact us.
From: MICHAEL FREEMAN
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 1:30 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
I've never tried rowing a Vega but I have often towed one by rowing my 8ft ply
tender usually within harbour but I once towed a vega from the River Orwell to
the Walton Backwaters (with the tide of course) when I got near my destination a
passing boat offered me a tow which I gratefully accepted.
As a boy on the River Thames I often watched lightermen rowing loaded barges
across the Thames to their moorings, they used one sweep only of considerasble
length and had enough room to walk back and forth with the sweep.
In China in the fifties I watched people sculling sampans,often of considerable
size and loaded. They used a bent oar with a rope bridle to the inboard end the
oar which was pivoted at the transom, they simply pushed the oar to and fro and
the bridle produced the sculling motion, I think the method was called Yuloh. In
all cases I would think that they used tides and currents to their advantage.
I would think a Vega with its easily driven hull would be childs play , just an
oar over one side and the rudder to correct the course.
Mike
PS I'll leave my exploits of the weekend till another occasion.
________________________________
From: TJBurkett tjburkett@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 18 April, 2011 14:00:45
Subject: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
Has anybody ever tried rowing a vega?
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940
This email is from a law firm and may contain information
that is privileged or confidential. If you suspect
you were not intended to receive this email,
please delete it and contact us.
From: MICHAEL FREEMAN
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 1:30 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
I've never tried rowing a Vega but I have often towed one by rowing my 8ft ply
tender usually within harbour but I once towed a vega from the River Orwell to
the Walton Backwaters (with the tide of course) when I got near my destination a
passing boat offered me a tow which I gratefully accepted.
As a boy on the River Thames I often watched lightermen rowing loaded barges
across the Thames to their moorings, they used one sweep only of considerasble
length and had enough room to walk back and forth with the sweep.
In China in the fifties I watched people sculling sampans,often of considerable
size and loaded. They used a bent oar with a rope bridle to the inboard end the
oar which was pivoted at the transom, they simply pushed the oar to and fro and
the bridle produced the sculling motion, I think the method was called Yuloh. In
all cases I would think that they used tides and currents to their advantage.
I would think a Vega with its easily driven hull would be childs play , just an
oar over one side and the rudder to correct the course.
Mike
PS I'll leave my exploits of the weekend till another occasion.
________________________________
From: TJBurkett tjburkett@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 18 April, 2011 14:00:45
Subject: [AlbinVega] Rowing a vega
Has anybody ever tried rowing a vega?
Thanks for all the reply's. I think I'll give it a try this summer. Sounds like Michael has a good story for us all about rowing......
I have rowed our Vega. We were in the packed mooring basin, sailing to pick up our mooring. The winds were light and inconsistent. In the basin, about 20 feet from the breakwall, the wind totally died. I leaned over, turned the key, and no joy! Drifting with the current toward the breakwall, I jumped into the cabin, pulled the stairs, grabbed the handle, and started cranking the flywheel. As one hand turned the handle, the other reached reached out turning the key. Half contorted, this method had always worked in the past.
Crank, crank, crank. Still no joy on the usually trustworthy MD6A. As the drift toward the wall continued, I frantically scanned the cabin for an alternative. The dinghy was on the mooring ball, waiting for our arrival. I was single-handed that day, so I couldn't throw someone else in the water. Could I swim strong enough to tow our boat? Jack Lalane did it with something like a hundred boats, right? Should I call for help? As hope waned, I spotted the oars laying on the starboard berth.
Seconds later, with the tiller lashed amidships, and my right leg hanging over the side of the boat, I was paddling for the ball. Stroke, stroke, stroke. The boat was actually moving! I paddled that boat, occasionally changing the the position of the tiller to weave through other boats. About 100 yards later the pendants were on the boat and we were resting comfortably. It was the best approach I've ever made picking up a mooring.
Oh, why didn't the motor start? As soon as I put her to bed, I took a hard look at that diesel. I told myself it was time to explore other options. What was I thinking with a 30 year old motor on a boat? Just as I was about to use up the last of my curse word repertoire, I noticed the problem. I had left the fuel shutoff lever up after the last time I ran the engine.
Enjoy.
Jack
Bella - V2620
Crank, crank, crank. Still no joy on the usually trustworthy MD6A. As the drift toward the wall continued, I frantically scanned the cabin for an alternative. The dinghy was on the mooring ball, waiting for our arrival. I was single-handed that day, so I couldn't throw someone else in the water. Could I swim strong enough to tow our boat? Jack Lalane did it with something like a hundred boats, right? Should I call for help? As hope waned, I spotted the oars laying on the starboard berth.
Seconds later, with the tiller lashed amidships, and my right leg hanging over the side of the boat, I was paddling for the ball. Stroke, stroke, stroke. The boat was actually moving! I paddled that boat, occasionally changing the the position of the tiller to weave through other boats. About 100 yards later the pendants were on the boat and we were resting comfortably. It was the best approach I've ever made picking up a mooring.
Oh, why didn't the motor start? As soon as I put her to bed, I took a hard look at that diesel. I told myself it was time to explore other options. What was I thinking with a 30 year old motor on a boat? Just as I was about to use up the last of my curse word repertoire, I noticed the problem. I had left the fuel shutoff lever up after the last time I ran the engine.
Enjoy.
Jack
Bella - V2620
Is that "OLD" guys like in over 30? Or are guys over 30 just "old" and "OLD" is reserved for over 50? -Tim
Old is to old, as old is to Old, it is all very relevant, which in this case is totally irrelevant ! 
sv Cin Cin V-2184
MSG Frank Gallardo Jr.
U.S. Army Special Forces Retired
sv Cin Cin V-2184
MSG Frank Gallardo Jr.
U.S. Army Special Forces Retired