Retrofitting Your Rowboat
Cchester Yawl with Frontrower™ installed
There are lots of existing rowboats that can be retrofit with a FrontRower™ rowing rig. (Some modification will probably be required.) Doing so will give you the same (or more) power and control as a conventional setup, and will give you a comfortable forward facing rowing position and the ability to row hands free.
Here is a partial list of known successful retrofits:
Adirondack Guide Boat
Alden Ocean Shell Single
Alden Ocean Shell Double
Annapolis Wherry
Appledore Pod
Chester Yawl
Heritage 12
Heritage 15
Merry Wherry
Skimmer Catamaran
Sprite Skiff
Windrush Rowing Skiff
Most of these boats can be seen in the slide show here.
If you already own one of these (or similar) boats, with a little modification you may be able to use it. Email us with the make and model or a picture and the overall length and beam dimensions and we will let you know what we think.
Cockpit Area Requirements
The FrontRower requires open area for the pedals to swing and for the leg power ropes to travel freely. It needs an open cockpit area in the center of the boat at least 60 inches long and at least 26 inches wide at the top.
Here is a partial list of known successful retrofits:
Adirondack Guide Boat
Alden Ocean Shell Single
Alden Ocean Shell Double
Annapolis Wherry
Appledore Pod
Chester Yawl
Heritage 12
Heritage 15
Merry Wherry
Skimmer Catamaran
Sprite Skiff
Windrush Rowing Skiff
Most of these boats can be seen in the slide show here.
If you already own one of these (or similar) boats, with a little modification you may be able to use it. Email us with the make and model or a picture and the overall length and beam dimensions and we will let you know what we think.
Cockpit Area Requirements
The FrontRower requires open area for the pedals to swing and for the leg power ropes to travel freely. It needs an open cockpit area in the center of the boat at least 60 inches long and at least 26 inches wide at the top.
Open cockpit area requirements for FrontRower installation
Maximum beam limitation
There is also a "maximum beam" limitation for the FrontRower. If the boat is too wide, the oars will make contact with the gunwales, limiting their forward swing. We list this at 36 inches for most canoe-like boats, but each boat is different, and some customers have done successful installations in beamier boats (up to 42 inches) with shallower cockpit depths.
There is also a "maximum beam" limitation for the FrontRower. If the boat is too wide, the oars will make contact with the gunwales, limiting their forward swing. We list this at 36 inches for most canoe-like boats, but each boat is different, and some customers have done successful installations in beamier boats (up to 42 inches) with shallower cockpit depths.
Rowboat Plans
We also have plans for building your own touring rowboat designed specifically for the Frontrower™. See Rowboat Plans.
We also have plans for building your own touring rowboat designed specifically for the Frontrower™. See Rowboat Plans.