How long is your boat and where are passengers going to sit? I mean you can do either if you prefer it that way, but usually people sit on a dry box for more storage or their coolers. This gets you sitting up a little higher for better visibility. If you are low and passengers are on a taller cooler in front of you it blocks your sight a bit. You also might want to think about a footbar, my cooler sits in front of me and it's just too slippery to use as an effective brace.
Rowing from Hatch vs Cooler
So I've seen plenty of pictures of folks rowing from their cooler. Does anyone ever row from a hatch/camp table that's covering a gear hatch/drop bag?
Reason I ask is because I'm shuffling things around this summer to run a couple overnight trips that are less geared towards fishing (Which my rig is setup for now) and more geared towards storage. Eventually I think I have an idea for a combination of the two, but I'm getting off track...
Any reason why not? Sitting on a plywood hatch cover lowers your center of gravity, I could put a pad on it much easier (my cooler has the split lid thing), and then I could run the cooler in front of me for a foot brace. Just looking for a reason why I shouldn't go this route? Or just to chat and nerd out over oar rig setups. Thanks folks
Reason I ask is because I'm shuffling things around this summer to run a couple overnight trips that are less geared towards fishing (Which my rig is setup for now) and more geared towards storage. Eventually I think I have an idea for a combination of the two, but I'm getting off track...
Any reason why not? Sitting on a plywood hatch cover lowers your center of gravity, I could put a pad on it much easier (my cooler has the split lid thing), and then I could run the cooler in front of me for a foot brace. Just looking for a reason why I shouldn't go this route? Or just to chat and nerd out over oar rig setups. Thanks folks
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Ooh did not think about the height thing. Good call. Not really able to get spendy on a dry box rn so that makes sense. I’ll just row from the cooler and do passenger(s) on the camp table hatch up front. 14’erHow long is your boat and where are passengers going to sit? I mean you can do either if you prefer it that way, but usually people sit on a dry box for more storage or their coolers. This gets you sitting up a little higher for better visibility. If you are low and passengers are on a taller cooler in front of you it blocks your sight a bit. You also might want to think about a footbar, my cooler sits in front of me and it's just too slippery to use as an effective brace.
How many bays is your frame, and how long of a boat? I've got a 14'ft and run a 4 bay frame... I've got drop bags in the front two and in the rear bay, and play around with where I place the cooler depending upon the type of float. If it's a beer drinking float the cooler goes in the 2nd bay so I don't have to get up for refills... I like both my cooler and dry box back from the front bay for weight distribution reasons, especially when I have passengers. I made the switch to a captains chair a couple of years ago post back surgery, and while it was spendy, it makes fooling around with the configuration a little bit easier... I haven't had any issues with the height/center of gravity with the chair, but than again if it's stouter than class IV I'm in my hard boat.
My concern with sitting lower than you typically would/do currently would be my oar tower heights more than anything depending upon the amount of miles you plan to click off...
I use the DRE deck hinges for my front bay with drop bag for gear, and bills/watershed bags go in the very back... This setup has worked well for fishing, and multiday trips for me... If you're interested in making a hatch with deck hinges I may have a piece of marine 3/4" ply that you could have if it fits your dimensions needed if you are near the BV or Denver area...
My concern with sitting lower than you typically would/do currently would be my oar tower heights more than anything depending upon the amount of miles you plan to click off...
I use the DRE deck hinges for my front bay with drop bag for gear, and bills/watershed bags go in the very back... This setup has worked well for fishing, and multiday trips for me... If you're interested in making a hatch with deck hinges I may have a piece of marine 3/4" ply that you could have if it fits your dimensions needed if you are near the BV or Denver area...
yeah, in my 14'er I run a 4 bay frame, drop bag/table front, cooler, rower, dry box or seat bar depending. If you are setup for a seat though you might have to get taller oarlocks if you move to a cooler/box, so that could be a reason to stick with sitting on the hatch. Just depends on how much the sight blockage annoys you. And then my fishing seats go on the ends of the setup if I need them. The hatch will also be more comfortable for passengers just due to width so they have more space vs trying to sit on a cooler. I don't know the real name, but those stadium chairs that are fabric/foam with the adjustable straps for the back work well for passengers, and then the rower can lean on the gear pile.
But now In thinking over this more. I think putting a wooden drop floor/beaver tail in the back would round out the storage I’m seeking for multi days. That and adding drop bags to the left and right of the captains chair.
I appreciate the offer considering lumber prices currently. But I’ve got some stashed in my garage as well. Thanks man.How many bays is your frame, and how long of a boat? I've got a 14'ft and run a 4 bay frame... I've got drop bags in the front two and in the rear bay, and play around with where I place the cooler depending upon the type of float. If it's a beer drinking float the cooler goes in the 2nd bay so I don't have to get up for refills... I like both my cooler and dry box back from the front bay for weight distribution reasons, especially when I have passengers. I made the switch to a captains chair a couple of years ago post back surgery, and while it was spendy, it makes fooling around with the configuration a little bit easier... I haven't had any issues with the height/center of gravity with the chair, but than again if it's stouter than class IV I'm in my hard boat.
My concern with sitting lower than you typically would/do currently would be my oar tower heights more than anything depending upon the amount of miles you plan to click off...
I use the DRE deck hinges for my front bay with drop bag for gear, and bills/watershed bags go in the very back... This setup has worked well for fishing, and multiday trips for me... If you're interested in making a hatch with deck hinges I may have a piece of marine 3/4" ply that you could have if it fits your dimensions needed if you are near the BV or Denver area...
When I need a higher view to examine our immediate future, I stand up. Yes, I can still row, briefly, from a standing position. When I need a lower center of gravity, I get my butt low. My butt is connected by my spine to that hunk of granite between my ears, so lowering my butt, even for critical moment, lowers the weight of everything above my thighs. Essentially and effectively, we all carry our weight in the same place ... in our butts. And getting my butt (and hence, my shoulders) down gives me a lower place from which to row. A-n-d I've found it gives me a better position from which to panic-dive flat for an instant if things go totally kerfluey. I know that's bad form, but there are times ... When my brain leaves the boat, I'd rather dig in like an old wood tick than get washed out into the foaming deep. Being out of the boat is the last place I want to be. I absolutely hate being out of the boat. Sorry about the rambling; in my 8th decade it is unavoidable but it's a privilege granted by patient adults.
Question for you as it sounds like you got your setup well laid out. What do you have to the left and right of your captains chair? I was thinking of drop bags? I curently just have decking cuz its nice for setting down a fly box, cup holders for beer, etc. The "Captains bags" from retailers seem small for the space. But I like that they zip so the contents within are secured. Thanksyeah, in my 14'er I run a 4 bay frame, drop bag/table front, cooler, rower, dry box or seat bar depending. If you are setup for a seat though you might have to get taller oarlocks if you move to a cooler/box, so that could be a reason to stick with sitting on the hatch. Just depends on how much the sight blockage annoys you. And then my fishing seats go on the ends of the setup if I need them. The hatch will also be more comfortable for passengers just due to width so they have more space vs trying to sit on a cooler. I don't know the real name, but those stadium chairs that are fabric/foam with the adjustable straps for the back work well for passengers, and then the rower can lean on the gear pile.
It sounds like you mean by your legs? For multiday trips to the sides of the dry box I sit on I strap on my water jugs. and then by my legs I strap a soft cooler. But then again I have the dry box to store those kind of items you are talking about in. I know the captains bags you are talking about, and yeah they do kind of work better on a DRE frame where that gap is smaller, but they are really nice for storing odds and ends, I know guys who have them. seems like they would still work, just have more play in them.
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