Our Rowboat Designs
Left to right: Odyssey 18™, Odyssey 165™ and Adventurer™
There are lots of beautiful rowboat designs out there. Some have evolved to the point that they are nearly perfect at doing the job for which they were intended.
But most commercially available rowing boats are not suited for use with the FrontRower™. They are intended for different purposes and different propulsion systems. Shells intended for racing have the oarlocks mounted on outriggers, and are too narrow. Skiffs intended for hauling fish nets have the oarlocks mounted directly on the gunnels, and are too wide. Dinghies intended for short trips from boat to dock are too small.
There are some existing rowboat designs that will work with the FrontRower™, but they require some modification for installation of the rowing unit and the operator's weight is in a different location, so the results are less than ideal.
The intended purposes for the FrontRower™ rowing system are: comfortable long distance touring, exercise rowing, photography and general recreation. And it is intended for use in protected waters such as inland lakes, rivers, and coastal harbors. It is not intended for use in rapids, surf, or when whitecaps are present.
We have been evolving our own rowboat designs optimized for these purposes and compatible with the FrontRower™ rowing system.
Our first design was for a two person touring type rowing boat. This evolved into the Odyssey 18. Underwater, this boat is a double-ender and it tracks well without a keel, skeg or rudder. It has a narrow waterline for low resistance. The sides flair out above the water, giving it additional secondary stability. The sides then turn back inward making it narrower at the gunnels. This boat features a foam core bottom adding rigidity and extra flotation to the hull. Designed for doubles rowing, it also rows very well as a solo rowing boat or solo with a passenger. At 18 feet long and 35-1/2 inches beam, the bare hull weighs in at around 70 pounds. Elizabeth and I rowed this boat to a senior mixed doubles record in the Slocum River Regatta, averaging 6-1/2 mph.
We like the Odyssey 18 a lot, but if you aren't going to row doubles, it is more boat than you need. We wanted a smaller lighter version for solo rowing, and came up with the Odyssey 165. All the same features, but at 16-1/2 feet long and 35-1/2 inch beam, the bare hull weighs about 60 pounds. The Odyssey 165 may be rowed solo or with a passenger.
These designs are available as plans.
But most commercially available rowing boats are not suited for use with the FrontRower™. They are intended for different purposes and different propulsion systems. Shells intended for racing have the oarlocks mounted on outriggers, and are too narrow. Skiffs intended for hauling fish nets have the oarlocks mounted directly on the gunnels, and are too wide. Dinghies intended for short trips from boat to dock are too small.
There are some existing rowboat designs that will work with the FrontRower™, but they require some modification for installation of the rowing unit and the operator's weight is in a different location, so the results are less than ideal.
The intended purposes for the FrontRower™ rowing system are: comfortable long distance touring, exercise rowing, photography and general recreation. And it is intended for use in protected waters such as inland lakes, rivers, and coastal harbors. It is not intended for use in rapids, surf, or when whitecaps are present.
We have been evolving our own rowboat designs optimized for these purposes and compatible with the FrontRower™ rowing system.
Our first design was for a two person touring type rowing boat. This evolved into the Odyssey 18. Underwater, this boat is a double-ender and it tracks well without a keel, skeg or rudder. It has a narrow waterline for low resistance. The sides flair out above the water, giving it additional secondary stability. The sides then turn back inward making it narrower at the gunnels. This boat features a foam core bottom adding rigidity and extra flotation to the hull. Designed for doubles rowing, it also rows very well as a solo rowing boat or solo with a passenger. At 18 feet long and 35-1/2 inches beam, the bare hull weighs in at around 70 pounds. Elizabeth and I rowed this boat to a senior mixed doubles record in the Slocum River Regatta, averaging 6-1/2 mph.
We like the Odyssey 18 a lot, but if you aren't going to row doubles, it is more boat than you need. We wanted a smaller lighter version for solo rowing, and came up with the Odyssey 165. All the same features, but at 16-1/2 feet long and 35-1/2 inch beam, the bare hull weighs about 60 pounds. The Odyssey 165 may be rowed solo or with a passenger.
These designs are available as plans.