Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

154
Part 2: The Basics of Operation
The feathered blades require rotating the shaft with each stroke to bring the blades into
the water at the most effective angle. The normal technique is to hold the shaft tightly in
one hand, but allow it to rotate in the hand as the strokes alternate sides. Most two-piece
paddles have adjustable blade angles, so you can experiment until you find the setting that
is most comfortable.
You can also move the boat sideways—to get close to a dock, for example—by using a
draw stroke. Plant the blade two or three feet from the boat, blade parallel to the keel,
and draw it toward you; the boat will inch sideways in the direction of the draw. Or you
can reverse this motion, a maneuver known as the pry stroke—plant the blade next to the
boat and push with the upper hand while you push with the lower, forcing the boat away.
Kayaking and canoeing in moving water is a whole new world compared to quiet-water
kayaking. It’s an exciting and fairly athletic endeavor, particularly as the moving water
advances to white water, in all its permutations. The movement of the river controls the
movement of the boat, and the boils, holes, and back-eddies have to be taken into account
in both steering and staying upright.
Best approach is to get a qualified instructor if you want to take on fast water; he or she
will teach you to work with the river, rather than fight against it.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Rowing differs from paddling in that the paddles of a rowboat—the “oars”—are secured
in oarlocks. This creates a lever, allowing a much longer stroke and making it easier to
apply the force needed to move the boat. This is why many rowboats can be both wider
and heavier than canoes and kayaks. Most rowboats except sculls also have square sterns,
so that they can be operated with electrical or gasoline motors as well.
Rowboats used to be planked or plywood, and a few custom builders still lovingly put
together such collector’s items. But the most common material in rowboats today is aluminum.
Who Needs a Rowboat?
You do, if you want to take a family of four or five for a trip via muscle power. Canoes and
kayaks don’t have space for this many people, but rowboats usually have at least three
bench seats where a number of passengers can sit in comfort. Be sure to check the capacity
plate so that you don’t overload, though. It’s mounted on the console or transom by
the manufacturer and lists the safe load capacity for the boat.