Rowing Canoes
Retrofitting your canoe for rowing
16-1/2 foot canoe set up for rowing.
Most ordinary tandem recreational canoes will make excellent rowboats. If you already own a canoe, there's a good chance you can convert it for rowing with the FrontRower™ drop-in rowing system. See types of canoes and recommended models below.
Installation involves locating the correct position for the rowing station in the boat, and then gluing two mounting pads to the floor of the boat to hold the rowing station in that position.
There needs to be enough open area for the frame and seat to fit in, and for the pedals to operate.
For a basic one-position installation you can remove the center thwart and leave everything else (seats and additional thwarts) in place. This should give you enough area to position the rowing unit. In some canoes it may be necessary to reposition or add thwarts for structural integrity.
Basic installation in canoe.
For proper weight distribution, the center of the rowing seat needs to be positioned about a foot aft of the mid point of the canoe. If the canoe is bow heavy, it will not track straight and will wander off course between strokes. Test the position out in calm conditions before permanently gluing the mounting pads in place.
The mounting pad locations shown below will work for most canoes.
The mounting pad locations shown below will work for most canoes.
Mounting Pad Location
The pads need to be 50-1/2 inches apart and on the center line of the boat. To find the center line, lay a flat board across the gunwales, find the center between the gunwales and project down onto the floor using a try square. To hold the pads the correct distance apart while the glue sets up, use a flat stick with holes for 1/4-20 screws located 50-1/2 inches apart. Use epoxy thickened with adhesive filler for fiberglass or kevlar boats. Use West System G-Flex and follow instructions for thermoplastic boats.
Types of Canoes
Tandem canoes
Tandem canoes designed for causal recreation, touring or cruising make the best rowing canoes. These will typically be between 15 and 17 feet long with a beam (the maximum width) of between 32 and 36 inches. This type of canoe will have room for one rower with or without a passenger.
Solo canoes
Some solo canoes work well for rowing, as long as they have at least 26 inches between the gunwales at the center. Solo canoes will not have room for a passenger.
Specialized canoes
Canoes designed for whitewater are not suitable for rowing. Sportsman's canoes intended for hunting and fishing may work, but if less than 14 feet long will not have much hull speed. You could try it if you you already own one, but don't buy one for rowing.
Canoe construction
The biggest difference in construction materials is in the weight of the canoe. Materials from lightest to heaviest are: carbon fiber, kevlar, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, and roto-molded plastics. The same size canoe can weigh anywhere from 30 to 90 pounds. This doesn't make too much difference in the water, but it makes a big difference when you are moving it around on land or trying to car-top it. Our preference is for kevlar, which can give you a tandem touring canoe weighing around 40 pounds - light enough to be easily car topped.
Tandem canoes designed for causal recreation, touring or cruising make the best rowing canoes. These will typically be between 15 and 17 feet long with a beam (the maximum width) of between 32 and 36 inches. This type of canoe will have room for one rower with or without a passenger.
Solo canoes
Some solo canoes work well for rowing, as long as they have at least 26 inches between the gunwales at the center. Solo canoes will not have room for a passenger.
Specialized canoes
Canoes designed for whitewater are not suitable for rowing. Sportsman's canoes intended for hunting and fishing may work, but if less than 14 feet long will not have much hull speed. You could try it if you you already own one, but don't buy one for rowing.
Canoe construction
The biggest difference in construction materials is in the weight of the canoe. Materials from lightest to heaviest are: carbon fiber, kevlar, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, and roto-molded plastics. The same size canoe can weigh anywhere from 30 to 90 pounds. This doesn't make too much difference in the water, but it makes a big difference when you are moving it around on land or trying to car-top it. Our preference is for kevlar, which can give you a tandem touring canoe weighing around 40 pounds - light enough to be easily car topped.
Recommended Canoe Models
There are many other canoe models from various manufacturers that can be set up to work with the FrontRower. Some models that are known to work well are listed below.
For solo rowing with room for a passenger:
Wenonah Adirondack, length: 16'-0", max beam: 36"
Bell North Star, length: 16'-6", max beam: 34-1/2"
Mad River Malecite, length: 16'-6", max beam: 34-1/2"
For solo only rowing (no passenger):
Wenonah Prism, length: 16'-6", max beam: 30-3/4"
For doubles Rowing:
For two rowing stations, you will need a longer boat, around 18 feet:
We can't recommend any canoes, but the Odyssey 18™ touring rowboat is a great doubles rowing boat.
You can see some of these canoes in the Slide Show of Owner's Boats.
For solo rowing with room for a passenger:
Wenonah Adirondack, length: 16'-0", max beam: 36"
Bell North Star, length: 16'-6", max beam: 34-1/2"
Mad River Malecite, length: 16'-6", max beam: 34-1/2"
For solo only rowing (no passenger):
Wenonah Prism, length: 16'-6", max beam: 30-3/4"
For doubles Rowing:
For two rowing stations, you will need a longer boat, around 18 feet:
We can't recommend any canoes, but the Odyssey 18™ touring rowboat is a great doubles rowing boat.
You can see some of these canoes in the Slide Show of Owner's Boats.