The Shallow Water Sailor Sailing Manual

6.0 Seamanship

          “Seamanship, in its widest sense, is the whole art of taking a ship from one place to another at Sea.  It is an amalgam of all the arts of designing a ship and her motive power ... of working her when at sea, and in harbour, and the science of navigation by which way is found from her point of departure to her point of arrival.  It thus embraces every aspect of a ship's life in port and her progress at sea.”

                                       The Oxford Companion to Ships & the Sea




6.1  Navigation


      “"The sailors, moreover, as they sail over the sea, when in cloudy weather they can no longer profit by the light, or when the world is wrapped in the darkness of the shades of night, and they are ignorant to what part of the horizon the prow is directed, place needle over the magnet, which when whirled round in a circle, until, when the motion ceases; the point of it [the needle] looks to the North."

                                                        Alexander Neckham, 1187




6.1.1   Prologue - Avoiding Embarrassment or Death


     I remember the last day of a cruise with a good sailing buddy who will go unnamed. We were returning to the ramp, but had to sail across a five mile body of water in a heavy fog. I lost sight of him as we sailed across. I felt confident, because I had my GPS and all I did was to retrace my track of the previous day. Even with the GPS I was still a little nervous being surrounded by all that white mist. It's scarey even when you think you know where you are. I got across alright and found the ramp. I retrieved the boat and had it all packed up for the road when my buddy pulled in about an hour later. He did get across, but spent the extra hour finding a familiar point of land that he recognized, finally getting to the ramp. Just before leaving, he mentioned that he decided to get a compass for his boat!
     Another example that goes well beyond simple embarrassment involves a fleet of Royal Navy war ships, as described in Alan Gurney's book "Compass". On the night of October 23, 1707 a lookout called out "Breakers ahead". Gurney writes in his book: "Minutes later, in the howling dark of an autumn night, four ships of the Royal Navy fleet were mastless hulks being pounded to pieces between the hammer blows of the Atlantic breakers and the anvil of the Scilly Island's granite reefs. Some two thousand men and officers from HMS Association, Eagle, Firebrand, and Romney died that night ... One more vessel, HMS St. George, struck hard but surged clear and survived."
     Poor understanding of the vagaries of the magnetic compass was a key factor in the above sea bourn tragedy.

6.1.2   Step One - A Course to Take and Books to Read


     There is a lot to navigation and we cannot cover every aspect of the subject in this manual. So we must assume you have already mastered the basics. The very first step in this direction is to take a navigation course.
     One such course is the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Advanced Coastal Navigation Course. This is a pretty tough course, but well worth the $60 that gets you a navigation book, charts, and a starter set of navigation instruments. The course is generally taught by dedicated volunteers. One of my teachers had an hour's drive, all the way from Annapolis, to teach the course in Gaithersburg. That's dedication.

The course focuses on the following main topics:

     The marine magnetic compass
     The nautical chart
     The navigator's tools and instruments
     Dead reckoning
     Piloting
     Current sailing
     Tides and tidal currents
     Radionavigation
     Navigation reference publications
     Fuel and voyage planning

Note: This course may no longer be offered at your local CGAUX. Current courses may be titled: Navigation for the Recreational Boater and GPS for Mariners. If you Google marine navigation courses or Coast Guard Auxiliary you may find courses close to your home.

    Even though I have over forty years experience in "keeping track of where I am and where I'm going" the course was helpful and fun (and lots of work). I think it should be a required course for all SWSers. I know there are among you, members who enjoy charts, trip planning, and simply the thought of getting a star fix via sextant on a rolling deck of the three masted bark. Such members may consider navigation as a fun hobby, like doing the New York Times crossword puzzle, something that challenges the mind. For such members, this course will satisfy their sense of accomplishment.
     As for reference books, the following are on my book shelf and are frequently opened and read with interest:

Advanced Coastal Navigation, AN-1, by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Newer publications are available.

Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation, by David Burch - (you will find that kayakers and solo SWS sailors have much in common).

Boat Navigation for the Rest of Us, by Captain Bill Brogdon - (a very practical read that suggests navigation requires constant vigilance/practice and the continuous accumulation of knowledge).

6.1.3   Shallow Water Sailor Navigation


     Most SWSers own trailerable sailboats. We tend to travel quite a bit to waters that are not well known to us. Small lakes and rivers generally require basic navigation skills while large bays and complex waterways require significant planning and advanced navigation skills.
     A case in point concerning complex navigation was the SWS summertime cruise on the North Channel of Lake Huron, August 2000. See Cruise #9 on our web pages for photos combined with a report of the cruise by Laura DeMass.
     Eight SWS boats launched from the Spanish Municipal Marina, Spanish, Ontario. I was a solo sailor on my Bay Hen, Sanity. As a solo sailor you are quite busy setting the boat up and getting underway. Before leaving the ramp I turned on my GPS and marked a waypoint for the ramp, a simple habit of mine on most cruises. Once away from the ramp and out in the main body of water, I had a chance to look around. First I noticed that none of the SWSer boats that left before me could be seen. Also I saw four or five different islands spread out before me. As I was at the tiller, and the wind was maybe 15 knots, I could not leave the tiller for even a moment. So under these conditions the solo sailor must have every navigational aid right at hand; as one hand is on the tiller, this means the sailor has only one hand to deal with the aids. Think on this. There is no full time navigator aboard, there is no chart room, no electronic console. There is but one hand, a chart in a plastic folder and in my case, thank goodness, a GPS with waypoints marked for the planned first day route. I had a small map I made up at home showing the waypoints and all I did with the one free hand was to set my route for the first waypoint and off I went with some confidence.
     So a number of the subjects taught in the Coast Guard's class I could not use. No dead reckoning plot was drawn as I sailed along, an impossibility when single handing. No use of radar or other advanced electronics. As you will see, planning and preparation is the key for a solo sailor.
     In my study of available books on navigation I found that those written for the sea kayakers are closest to what a SWSer needs. Of these books the one by David Burch, Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation is outstanding. This book rang a bell in my ordinarily forgetful mind, as this was the very same book that Peter Neal suggested in his "Winter Thoughts" message in the SWS Issue #116.
     So I got the book, and yes, it is the one for us. We do not have a full time navigator on our boats whose sole job is to keep up a dead reckoning plot of our position, and to make periodic fixes that assure we know where the boat is at all times. As with the sea kayaker, we must do a lot of planning that may include a route with compass courses, time/distance to each waypoint and other planning information, that, during the trip, we refer to and make quick notes as we pass each waypoint or preplanned fix.

6.1.4   The Importance of Practice


     Before going into David Burch's book, Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation, there is an important point to make concerning practicing navigation. In Captain Bill Brogdon book, Boat Navigation for the Rest of Us, Brogdon returns frequently to the idea that one must master navigation by practicing it all the time. If you find yourself in a dense fog in strange waters and you haven't practiced maintaining a compass course during fine days in familiar waters, you may find yourself in trouble. Mastery of navigation comes only with practice and feedback. If you can't follow a compass course to a buoy five miles away, in good weather, how can you possibly find it in a fog?
     Brogdon gives this example: imagine that you are leaving a ramp and navigating a buoyed channel having pairs of red and green buoys leading you out of the shallows. To quote Brogdon, "A beginner lines up the boat with the buoys and proceeds safely. So does an experienced navigator, but the navigator also:

          1. Notes compass course.
          2. Notes range or leading mark ahead.
          3. Watches water flow at buoys to estimate current and set.
          4. Is alert to cross-channel set.
          5. Notes buoy numbers as the boat passes them.
          6. Knows the next course.
          7. Knows where to look for buoys on the next leg.
          8. Watches depth to note changes.
          9. Checks compass deviation."

     Brogdon goes on to say that, "A navigator may not do all of these things every trip, but he keeps accumulating knowledge of familiar ports." So his basic theme seems to be:

Successful navigation requires the accumulation of knowledge and the practice of fundamentals each and every time you go sailing.

    In thinking about what SWSers should do to follow this theme, one first step would be to practice some navigation on your next trip out. My suggestion is to produce a Route Plan for your next cruise. Such a plan requires you to carefully review the charts of your cruise waters and come up with a Route Plan that you will refer to during the cruise.

6.1.5 A Route Plan (using a "little memorandum book")


    SWSers generally do not have a full time navigator on their boats whose sole job is to keep up a dead reckoning plot of position and to make periodic fixes. We are captain, coxswain, steward, and navigator rolled into one. So for our navigator role, we must do a lot more planning. This includes writing down our planned route with compass courses, time/distance to each waypoint and other planning information, that, during the trip, we refer to and make quick notes as we pass each waypoint or preplanned fix. Each body of water presents its own set of navigation concerns, and so your route plan will differ depending on your cruising ground. Some trips will involve hazards, open water, high currents, shallows or covered rocks, that should be noted in the route plan. So here goes. Let me try to produce an example route plan, one using a favorite cruising ground on the Chesapeake Bay.
    This example involves, in part, keeping an eye out for points of land. But first you must read the following excerpt from Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi, Chapter 6 - A Cub Pilot's Experience!

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‘What's the name of the first point above New Orleans?'

I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did.
I said I didn't know.

‘Don't KNOW?'

This manner jolted me. I was down at the foot again, in a moment. But I had to say just what I had said before.

‘Well, you're a smart one,' said Mr. Bixby. ‘What's the name of the NEXT point?'
Once more I didn't know.

‘Well, this beats anything. Tell me the name of ANY point or place I told you.'
I studied a while and decided that I couldn't.

‘Look here! What do you start out from, above Twelve-Mile Point, to cross over?'

‘I--I-- don't know.'

‘You--you--don't know?' mimicking my drawling manner of speech.

‘What DO you know?'

‘I--I-- nothing, for certain.'

‘By the great Caesar's ghost, I believe you! You're the stupidest dunderhead I ever saw or ever heard of, so help me Moses! The idea of you being a pilot--you! Why, you don't know enough to pilot a cow down a lane.'

Oh, but his wrath was up! He was a nervous man, and he shuffled from one side of his wheel to the other as if the floor was hot. He would boil a while to himself, and then overflow and scald me again.

‘Look here! What do you suppose I told you the names of those points for?'

I tremblingly considered a moment, and then the devil of temptation provoked me to say:- ‘Well--to--to--be entertaining, I thought.'

This was a red rag to the bull. He raged and stormed so (he was crossing the river at the time) that I judge it made him blind, because he ran over the steering-oar of a trading-scow. Of course the traders sent up a volley of red-hot profanity. Never was a man so grateful as Mr. Bixby was: because he was brim full, and here were subjects who would TALK BACK. He threw open a window, thrust his head out, and such an irruption followed as I never had heard before. The fainter and farther away the scowmen's curses drifted, the higher Mr. Bixby lifted his voice and the weightier his adjectives grew. When he closed the window he was empty. You could have drawn a seine through his system and not caught curses enough to disturb your mother with. Presently he said to me in the gentlest way-

‘My boy, you must get a little memorandum book, and every time I tell you a thing, put it down right away. There's only one way to be a pilot, and that is to get this entire river by heart. You have to know it just like A B C.'

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    So now let's do some planning. You sit down with the chart and your navigational tools. The tools should include the "little memorandum book" (the wire ring types are great because the pages lay flat), a set of dividers, sharpened No. 2 pencils, a good art store eraser (Staedtler Mars Plastic), and a Course Protractor Plotter Ruler, 15" from the C-Thru Ruler Company or equivalent (http://www.cthruruler.com/) for picking course headings off the chart and a chart of the waters you plan to sail.
    Now study the chart below. It shows the waters surrounding Wye Island on the eastern shore of Maryland. Now I've sailed the Wye nearly 20 times, but the next time I go, I'm going to bring a "little memorandum book," per Mr. Boxby, that contains a Route Plan to be used for practice so I can get good at navigating. You first might ask why start with what seems to be such an easy navigation problem? The Wye has narrow water courses, you certainly can't get lost! Well Pilgrim, you come sail the Wye yourself and see if you can't get lost. I picked it because yes, indeed, you very well can get lost, if your navigation is anything like mine! Another reason why I picked it, is because it is beloved by our local SWS members. To take a day or two to circumnavigate the Wye Island is heaven on earth.
    The entire route will be down the Wye East River, following the south shore of the island; then up the Wye River, along the island's west shore; and finally through the Wye Narrows along the north and east shores of the island. The numerous creeks can confuse the inattentive. In fact, the last time I sailed away from the Wye Landing, I reached the conjunction where the four water bodies that come together about 0.3 m (in coastal marine chart work m generally stands for nautical miles) south of the ramp. Waking up from a deep reverie I realized that I hadn't the foggiest notion which way I should turn.
    Let's now fill out a route plan for the first day leaving from the Wye Landing ramp and ending at Dividing Creek. See the planned route and the notations on the chart. To the right you see the route plan. The first leg is a compass course of 195 that after sailing 0.7 m will get me to the Boathouse waypoint. In fact this is the only leg of the trip that uses a compass direction. [See Section 6.1.6, Compass Basics, below that discusses the relationship between compass, magnetic, and true directions.]

   Once in a river-like channel, other methods of navigation can be used, e.g. the use of physical landmarks to guide the way. The next waypoint is a point of land that I named B1 (for the first point after the boathouse). Once at the Boathouse and looking west, the most marked physical landmark is this point of land. So for the next leg, I just note that we will be sailing approximately west for 1.1 m until we reach B1 Point. I also thought it would be a good idea to indicate which shore the point would be on. So I used L with a bar on top to denote the left shore. Once past B1 the next landmark is Point B2, you will note I indicate that we will be passing two creeks on the right shore. These are not waypoints but preplanned fixes, so as you pass them you will know where you are. Also, after the B2, I note that we should simply follow the left shore. The next point, the Point B3, will not be immediately apparent but will come into view in a mile or so. And lastly as you pass this point, the direction says to cross over to the right shore and follow it into Dividing Creek.
   This example Route Plan uses nothing more than the logic one uses when simply navigating via the chart alone, but having to think about it and write it down helps organize your thoughts and will help you remember the compass course and physical waypoints needed to navigate confidently.
   So try making a route plan and test it out the next time out. As you pass each waypoint or preplanned fix, write the time of passage to remember where you are. Also once you've drafted the route plan, review it with such concerns as the following:

  1. Have you accurately determined the compass courses and distances for the necessary legs?
  2. Have you checked your route for high wind and wave exposure; should it be modified to minimize such exposure?
  3. Are there any hazards along the route and have you noted them?
  4. Have you noted the safe havens along the route that might be used in case of bad weather?

   So now you know about the use of points of land to navigate by, as well as the use of the "little memorandum book." Mr Bixby and Mark Twain would be proud of you.


6.1.6   Compass Basics


     For a full history of the magnetic compass, the book Compass by Alan Gurney is highly recommended. If you like audio books I recommend the Books on Tape audio of Compass read by John Lee.

Below is a simple summary of the compass basics:

1 degree of Latitude = 60 nm , 1 second of latitude = 1 nm (not so for Longitude! Use latitude scale to measure distance).

The following "directions" are measured in degrees (with 360 degrees in the full swing of the compass).

T = True direction - Based on the chart's geographic meridian lines that point to the north pole.

M = Magnetic direction - Based on the meridian lines that point to the magnetic north pole.

C = Compass direction - the compass' heading.

V = Variation - Difference between geographic (true) and magnetic meridians.

D = Deviation - Effect of vessel's magnetic fields upon a compass.

To find the relationships between True, Magnetic, and Compass headings use the following mnemonics:

T     Tele-
V     vision
M     Makes
D     Dull
C     Children
+W   avoid Watching

Example 1:
Vessel's heading is 288 degrees
Variation is 10 degrees west
Deviation is 3 east

Find magnetic and compass headings:

T    288
V    +10 when westerly add
M    298
D    -3   : when easterly, subtract
C    295

Magnest heading is 298,
compass heading is 295.
C     Can
D     Dead
M     Men
V     Vote
T     Twice
+E   in an Election

Example 2:
Vessel's compass heading is 101 degrees
Deviation is 1 degree east
Variation is 10 degrees west

Find magnetic and true headings:

C    101
D    +1 wheneasterly, add
M    102
V    -10 when westerly, subtract
T    092

Magnetic heading is 102,
true heading is 092.

   For small wooden or fiberglass vessels, with careful avoidance of magnetic fields near the compass (such as items containing iron), deviation can generally be ignored. As variation is west on the east coast and east on the west coast, you can make up your own equation for your particular waters. The Chesapeake has a 11 degree westerly variation (check all charts in your cruising area to make certain variation is nearly the same). So for the Chesapeake, in general, the following equation applies:
C = M = T + 11
   For the Shallow Water Sailor, true directions taken off charts should be converted to compass directions when planning the compass course legs of a trip.

6.1.7 Natural Ranges


    You may have already used a navigation range while in buoyed channel that is made up of two lights or boards, one low, the other higher; where the low one is closer to you as you approach it, and the higher one set back a 50 yards or so. When lined up this navigation range gives you a line-of-position (LOP) right down the center of the channel. They are quite effective in keeping you in the channel's center and allowing you to adjust for the possible side-to-side drift caused by current or wind. Of course it goes without saying you must keep your eye out for any ship that might be using the same LOP! But I bet you haven't tried a natural range yet! In David Burch's book, Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation, he makes a big thing about the kayakers use of such ranges. My suggestion is to study a chart of your favorite waters and pick out several natural ranges and test them out while you're on the water. The sketch below was taken from Burch's book and provides a number of examples of natural ranges.


    My one experience finding and using a natural range was when leaving a favorite ramp inside a nice cove. There was an extra low tide and I was shocked to see a nasty boulder sticking out, right at the cove's entrance. I must have passed over that boulder a dozen times before, probably at high tide. Now how could I remember its location the next time I left or entered the cove? As I looked around I noticed a nearby house and as I maneuvered around the boulder the left side of the house lined up along my route. Well from then on, I just lined up with the left side of the house and came and went safety without a worry.
    Below is another quote from Life on the Mississippi where Mark Twain continues his cub pilot training; here Mr Bixby teaches Mark (and us) the importance of natural ranges:

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    "If there had been a conspicuous dead tree standing upon the very point of the cape, I would find that tree inconspicuously merged into the general forest, and occupying the middle of a straight shore, when I got abreast of it! No prominent hill would stick to its shape long enough for me to make up my mind what its form really was, but it was as dissolving and changeful as if it had been a mountain of butter in the hottest corner of the tropics. Nothing ever had the same shape when I was coming downstream that it had borne when I went up. I mentioned these little difficulties to Mr. Bixby. He said – ‘That's the very main virtue of the thing. If the shapes didn't change every three seconds they wouldn't be of any use. Take this place where we are now, for instance. As long as that hill over yonder is only one hill, I can boom right along the way I`m going; but the moment it splits at the top and forms a V, I know I`ve got to scratch to starboard in a hurry, or I`ll bang this boat`s brains out against a rock; and then the moment one of the prongs of the V swings behind the other, I`ve got to waltz to larboard again, or I`ll have a misunderstanding with a snag that would snatch the keelson out of this steamboat as neatly as if it were a sliver in your hand. If that hill didn't change its shape on bad nights there would be an awful steamboat grave-yard around here inside of a year. "It was plain that I had got to learn the shape of the river in all the different ways that could be thought of, – upside down, wrong end first, inside out, fore-and-aft, and ‘thortships,' – and then know what to do on gray nights when it hadn't any shape at all."
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Members are asked to send in additional navigation sections.





6.2  Getting Underway


      “Away then,
      Onto the waters.
      The land grows distant,
      The waters begin their work.
      The spirit, refreshed,
      Returns anew.”


                        Ken Murphy


           After all your preparatory work, getting the time off, packing food and clothing you have gotten to the ramp and the boat is in the water, this is when life really starts, you lucky one you. This section provides a few thoughts about getting underway.

      6.2.1 Peter's Immutable Dovekie Rules


                    GENERAL: There are a number of  “immutable” rules concerning the DOVEKIE that best fall in this section.  Also, this manual includes some subjective thoughts, as well as objective instructions.   We recommend you follow them until you thoroughly understand the boat and its workings. Then feel free to experiment.  Please tell us if you find better ways to do things. 
  1. NEVER GO ON DECK:  While the DOVEKlE’s deck is strong enough to support you, her stability is probably not.  Everything you need to do to operate DOVEKIE can be done from below.  There is no anti-skid on the deck, and its crown is quite high.  Both are done to enhance the prohibition against going on deck.  Of the few accidental capsizes we know of, one occurred because a heavy man was on deck.  He lost his balance, grabbed the mast to regain it and simply levered the boat over...to windward!  The only exception to this is to go out over the bow when you’ve beached for a picnic, or whatever.
  2. DOVEKIE is incredibly tough, so you can afford to be a bit relaxed about piloting.  But KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER.   DOVEKIE is a very stable, seaworthy boat but she has limitations. Asking her to do more than she can is rather unprofitable.  Excesses will almost invariably be a result of inattention to the weather.
  3. KEEP EVERYTHING AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE. The more junk you leave at home, the better.

      6.2.2  Wind, Weather, Objective


           As part of the cruise preparations you have familiarized yourself with the cruising grounds by carefully studying the area charts, coast pilots, and other such information. You have probably made tentative plans for the places you want to visit during the day and where you want to anchor for the night, it is at the ramp where you make the final decisions. You have listened to the latest weather forecast and you have observed the wind and wave conditions of the local waters. Ideally you have observed these conditions in unprotected parts of the cruising grounds so you know what to expect when you get to open water. It is now that you consider last minute changes in your cruise plans. If conditions are unsuitable or bad weather is expected, this is also the time to decide NOT to launch. Many ramps offer close quarters that require some accurate maneuvers when getting underway. So wind and current should be observed and a plan made for leaving the ramp either by sail or engine.

      6.2.3   Centerboards, Bilgeboards, and Leeboards


           Generally, when leaving a ramp under power, it is a good idea to lower the centerboard (read bilgeboard or leeboard) to limit sideslip while maneuvering in close quarters.  Flat-bottomed boats need extra lateral resistance to make tight turns and to control the boat nicely when going astern.  Here are some added thoughts about the boards.

   6.2.3.1 Bay Hen Bilgeboards

          The early Bay Hens have off-center centerboards that work quite well but take up cabin space and make the sleeping arrangements tight for two people. The newer Bay Hens have two bilgeboards that give more sleeping space below. Bilgeboards are operated much like leeboards on the Sea Pearl or Dovekie.  Generally, the board on the lee side is fully dropped to a vertical position to provide lateral resistance while beating upwind.  The amount of board down depends on the point of sail.   Experimentation is needed but the board can be brought up to the half position when on a broad reach, and can be fully withdrawn when going down wind.  When using the engine the board should be used when tight maneuvers are required and possibly when quartering into a heavy breeze.  The movement of the Bay Hen's bilgeboard also effects the location of the center of lateral resistance to some extent.  Therefore when sailing upwind in heavy air, weather helm can be somewhat reduced by bringing up the centerboard pendent a foot or so. See more discussion in the Sailing in Heavy Air section.

discussions of leeboards, etc. need to be added.


      6.2.4  Location, Location, Location


           When launching into unfamiliar waters, it is while you’re at the ramp that the question, “will I be able to find my way back” should be asked. If you have a GPS, mark the ramp’s location. If you are navigating by compass, keep some notes as to the compass courses you take.
            When in unfamiliar waters, make the habit of looking back as you leave the ramp.   Memorize, or even note in your log, the obvious features as well as aids to navigation, that you will use on the way back to relocate the ramp. The features can dramatically change as you move further away from the ramp so look back every mile or two.
            I had one buddy who got lost coming back to the ramp in heavy fog.  It took him an extra hour before he finally arrived.  It was then that he said he didn’t have a compass and, by the way, he’ll be picking one up on the way home!

      6.2.5  Hoisting and Striking a Gaff-Rigged Sail


During setup at the ramp you should check to make sure the parrel line (see Figures 2 and 4) of the gaff jaw is properly placed above the mast cleat. This line sometimes falls below the cleat and gets stuck as you try to hoist the sail.

If you've motored away from the ramp and are clear of land, you can start the hoist while drifting beam to the wind. [It is customary, in most sailboats, to raise the sail with bow into the wind. I do this only if I'm under power with crew in heavy seas or when on a mooring. But in most fair conditions and when I'm solo raising the gaff sail with lazy jacks, with the beam to the wind works fine, I am careful to assure the sheet is running free.] Gaskets are removed and the sheet loosened to allow the sail to shake freely. Both the peak and throat halyards are taken in hand and hauled together. Once the gaff is raised a foot or two, I like to raise the peak a few feet above the throat before I continue to haul on both halyards. Once the luff of the sail is fully extended give a good pull to tighten it and cleat the throat halyard off. Continue raising the peak. I find that if I over peak the sail, just a little, where you see a wrinkle just beginning to form from the peak to the tack of the sail, it's time to cleat the peak halyard. Once you take in the sheet and begin sailing, the wrinkle disappears and the sail is smooth. If I don't over peak, the sail will droop with wrinkles forming from the clew to the luff. Not pretty, and you do want to look pretty out there!

Striking the gaff rig, especially in heavy winds and tight places, should be a well practiced evolution. It can get nasty if the sail does not come down nicely before the wind gets into the sail and blows you around. The peak and throat halyards should run free as you take the sail down. I flake my halyards down into a little nest right below their cleats on the cockpit seat as I raise the sail. I don't like to coil them, as they might get stuck as you take the sail down. When the wind is up I sail upwind, untie the halyards, but hold on to them, shoot up into the wind, drop the halyards and immediately, and quickly, pull the leach of the sail down. The gaff should come down parallel with the water. With practice you should be able to drop the sail in less than 4 seconds, that is fast enough to assure the sail is mostly down before the boat begins turning beam to the wind. You then need time to tie the gaskets around the sail, then anchor or start the engine, so make sure you have plenty of drifting space.

      6.2.6  Hoisting and Striking other rigs must be added




Include following suggestions for Dovekie need to be integrated into text:
DRAIN PLUG IN
life vest on or nearby
Water, sunscreen, ... nearby
rudder down or ready to be lowered
leeboard down or ready (sling removed)
sheet clear, ready for mast raising.
Mast up or ready, shrouds clear and attached, forestay clear.




6.3  Sailing in Light Air


          Light Breeze: small, short wavelets; crests have glassy appearance and do not break”

                            The Oxford Companion to Ships & the Sea



          Sailing a sprit rigged Dovekie or a gaff rigged Hen boat or any SWS, on a balmy day can be most exhilarating! Concerns for sail damage, rigging strength, tiller & rudder integrity, (the skipper and crew!), that often accompany heavy weather sailing can be mostly forgotten as one lies back to enjoy the ambiance of nature's best.

6.3.1. Sail Adjustments

          In general, light air dictates a fuller sail, so halyard and outhaul tension should be more relaxed than that incorporated during breezier times. Easing line tension results in more sail draft (curvature), hence a more efficient shape is created to capture those light breezes. Those who have boats with a gaff, should try a halyard setting less peaked than usual. When adjusting the peak halyard on Hens with gallows always check to ensure the boom will still clear the gallows otherwise the sail may get stuck when tacking. This is also a good time to experiment with centerboard settings. Usually, the harder on the wind, the more board you need employ to resist leeway. When going downwind, raise the board to reduce friction but retain enough surface to preserve ample steering control.

6.3.2. Going to Windward

          Going to windward, or "beating", is best accomplished in boats with a single sail, by not attempting to sail too close to the wind.  Most authorities state that 40 to 45 degrees into the wind is the best that any boat can muster. Experience with the cat rigged Hen or Dovekie, shows that while some headway can be made at this angle, performance is sluggish and, unless it seems prudent to make a particular mark, easing the sheet and setting a course about 50 degrees off wind will allow the boat to sail free with noticeably improved speed and tiller response. Experiment, but don't sail too closely hulled. When beating, such boars usually like to have their booms set a bit beyond the edge of the deck.

6.3.3. Reaching

          Sailing with the wind at a right angle to the boat is termed "reaching" and should probably be the first kind of sailing practiced by the new skipper. Under most conditions, it is the safest and most enjoyable point of sail and it is while reaching that your boat can obtain its best speed for a given wind speed. While reaching, remember the axiom: "when in doubt let it out" referring to the sheet adjustment. When on a reach, let the sail out until it just begins to luff, then pull the sheet in gently till the luffing stops. That's all there is to it. This will give you the most efficient sail set (translation: speed) while reaching under most wind and sea conditions.

6.3.4. Running

          Running in flat water on a light air day can be downright deceiving to the senses. You feel little air motion and the impression is one of hardly moving. Checking your wake will prove otherwise and, since you can sail directly to your destination, a check of your watch will show you are making good progress indeed. The sail should be set almost broadside to catch as much wind as possible, but even in light air you must remain vigilant to wind direction and beware the tendency for an unexpected jibe : See 6.3.6.

6.3.5. Coming About

          Changing direction by turning the boat from one tack, through the wind, to the other tack, is called "coming about". It is the safest way to execute a turn on a sailboat and it should be practiced frequently by all new boat owners during varied conditions. First warn the crew by calling out, "ready about", and upon calling out the command, "hard-a-lee", push the tiller towards the boom to smoothly send the bow through the eye of the wind until the sail again fills.  The maneuver must be made decisively, and care must be taken to hold the tiller over until the sail begins to fill on the opposite side.  It is best to let the boat bear off the wind to gain momentum on the new tack before attempting to sail higher on the wind.  Every boat has its own characteristics and idiosyncrasies to display when coming about.  Practice is always required on a new vessel to get its feel and to execute maneuvers smoothly and efficiently.  In general, heavier boats follow through the turn with less effort, but all have a learning curve and in the beginning it is not unusual to come up short with the sail luffing and the boat floundering to windward with no headway and thus no rudder control.  To prevent going into "irons" ( boat pointed into the wind and stopped such that the rudder becomes ineffective) the coming about maneuver should be started with the boat at speed and close to the wind.  The centerboard or bilgeboard adjusted to provide effective lateral resistance (generally down all the way).  The rudder is then put over to about 35 degrees to turn the boat effectively.  When in irons in light air, slaloming the rudder will probably be sufficient to turn you enough to catch the breeze, but if wind conditions strengthen, you may need to incorporate the instructions given in the "Sailing in Heavy Air" section. Always remember when coming about, most SWS boats must turn 100 degrees from it's prior course, so make sure to come completely through the wind before adjusting the tiller.  Experience will dictate when coming about will set you on the course that will clear the objective, for instance, a point of land.  As you tack upwind approaching the point of land, you will be watching for that last tack that will finally bring you around the point.  As you approach the point it will be on the weather side of the boat.  If you tack when the point is broadside you will be disappointed.  You need to hold your course till the "target" is 10 more degrees abaft the beam before coming about.  After a few tries you will get the timing right.  Tacking upwind is a challenge, and when you've accomplished your objective, you feel a sense of pride.

6.3.6. Jibing

          The jibe is the quickest and most direct way of changing direction with the wind on your stern, but extreme care must always be taken. Alert the crew by calling out, "prepare to jibe". Insure that the wind is dead aft or slightly over the side of the boat opposite the sail. Pull in the sheet until the end of the boom is nearly overhead. The sheet should be flaked out carefully in preparation for its release on the opposite tack. Call out the command, "jibe ho" as you ease the tiller away from the boom and the wind catches the back of the sail and swings it across to the opposite side. Even while sailing in a light breeze, the boom must be controlled. Once the boom passes overhead release the sheet steadily out onto the opposite tack. An unrestrained jibe, even in light air, can place unnecessary strain on the sail, fittings, and rigging . Refer to Section 7.7 that discusses jibing in heavy air.  When the winds are light, take advantage of the conditions and plan to do some drills to improve your skills and train the permanent crewmembers. Also, during light wind days don't be lulled into inattention. It may be a seemingly lazy day, but always be attentive to your sailing, be on watch for weather changes, and of course lookout for other boats. Above all enjoy your journey; this is the kind of day in which your SWS boat was designed to revel!

6.4  Sailing in Heavy Air


Typhoon comes from the Chinese, "tai fong" which understandably means "great wind", while hurricane is originally from hurrican a Caribbean word that meant "evil spirit".
                                                                               Word Origins by Wilfred Funk

           "Heavy air" , "heavy seas", "heavy weather", all are nautical expressions for a strong breeze. Heavy weather is that condition which challenges a sailor's expertise, experience, strength, and fortitude.

6.4.1  Sail Adjustments

6.4.1.1  Shape Adjustments

          More wind dictates tighter lines. Pull the halyards and outhauls taut to help flatten the set of the sail, taking care not to stress the cloth and the fittings. When possible, make these adjustments, reef the sail, and raise the sail while the boat is relatively protected from the weather, before setting out on open water.

6.4.1.2  Reefing of the Gaff Rig

          Refer to Figure 4 that shows the reefing system on a Gaff Rig.  The first reef is made with the jiffy reefing pendents. When you are caught in open water with an increasing wind you can make the first reef from the cockpit using the jiffy reefing pendents. When going upwind the boat will tell you when its time to reef, its angle of heel will become uncomfortable, the sheet tension will become high, and her weather helm will become excessive.
          To jiffy reef  let go the sheet completely, then ease the peak and throat halyards to drop the gaff about 4 feet. The sail gathers in her lazy jacks even if the boom is hanging out over the water. You tighten up on the two jiffy reefing pendents, reset the halyards, and readjust the sheet. And your off with reduced sail. She will sail as fast as before, but the weather helm will be reduced. The reef nettles need not be tied in this situation. However, reefing is best done leisurely while at anchor in a quiet spot where you can leisurely tie in the reef pendents.
          When the wind requires the second reef that is not set up for jiffy reefing, it is recommended that you anchor in a spot protected from the wind, as the second reef requires the sailor to go forward to tie the tack pendent.  Better to do this while anchored. It also means the boom must be brought in to gain access to the clew for tying the clew pendent. When anchored, raise the gaff a foot off the boom so you can see what your doing. Tie off the clew and tack pendents, and using reefing knots, tie the nettles around the sail.  Remember, the Hen's gaff rig is free footed and so do not tie the nettles around the boom. Care must be taken to tie the correct nettle ends together. That is, do not tie a first reef point nettle together with a second reef nettle (done that). I have thought it might help to use a color marker pen at the tips of the nettles to prevent such an unseamenlike error.


Reef Knot
Slipped Reef Knot

          If you're not used to tying a reef knot (also called a square knot) it will take you some time to get it right. The usual error is to tie a granny knot where you make the last tuck of the knot from the same side rather than the opposite side of the knot. Once you've mastered the reef knot try tying the slipped reef knot. The advantage of the slipped reef knot is the ease in which you can untie the knot when shaking out a reef while underway.

6.4.1.3  Scandalizing the Gaff Rig

          This is an emergency procedure, to make a quick temporary reef, say to reduce speed or get control of the boat temporarily while under increasing wind conditions.  Scandalizing is accomplished by lowering the peak of the gaff down against or close to the mast, effectively folding the sail in two and reducing the sail area by about 50%.  Especially handy if you are alone.
          The peak halyard line should be ready to run when the halyard is uncleated. On my Bay Hen, I store my halyards coiled and hung on their respective cleats. To get one ready to run, I would remove it from it's cleat and toss the coil carefully into the cabin, to keep it out from under foot and give it some distance to run before it got to my hand to give the usual kinks time to untwist.
          The peak halyard is then uncleated and the gaff peak is lowered down smartly against the mast. As soon as possible, a slight tension should then be place on the peak halyard to keep it from flopping around too much, and it should be secured again.
          If you plan to use this technique assure that the lazy jacks are adjusted so that the boom does not hit the gallows.  I always keep my lazy jacks adjusted so that my boom clears boom gallows when I lower sail, yet with a pull of the sheet, the boom will come to rest on the gallows.  Check this adjustment often, because if the boom gets stuck as it crosses the gallows, the sail will take the full strength of the wind and you may capsize.
 
          On a single reefed Bay Hen do not tie the nettles of the most forward reef point. The sail looks good enough without it and you can shake out the reef from the companionway without going forward.

6.4.1.4  Reefing of Hen's Sprit Rig

          The Hen sprit rig is reefed by using brailing lines that are attached to a long singular line which runs almost the length of the mast. The brail lines are then run through reefing grommets from the luff of the sail out to grommets on the main body of the sail and back to the luff. To reef the sail you simply loosen the snotter and pull down on the long singular line. This pulls the sail towards the mast, picture the concept of window blinds, reducing the sail area from 150 sq. feet to 85 sq. ft. To shake out the reef you simply slacken the snotter, uncleat the brailing line, letting it run free and tighten the snotter. All of this is much easier to do than to explain. Some sprit rigs have conventional reefing point while several use a roller furling system where the snotter is eased and a roller pendent is pulled to reef the sail, all from the cockpit!

6.4.2 Raising and Striking Sail

          In heavy seas and wind special care is required when raising or striking sail. Without forward motion the boat will soon be blown broadside to the wind and waves. This is uncomfortable at best and at worst the boat is subject to capsize. Another danger is the surprising speed at which the boat drifts sideways raising the possibility of coming up against a nasty shore. When there is crew, the use of the engine to keep the boat into the wind can avoid these problems. The solo crew must plan ahead and think through how to deal with such conditions by seeking sheltered waters, or by finding ways to use the engine while working the sails. Oh to have four long arms when going solo! 

6.4.3 Going to Windward

          Beating to windward during a strong blow feels much as the term implies "beating!" You, your crew, and your boat will feel the direct and full assault of wind and waves, and real effort must be maintained to keep the boat under control and on her selected course. Remember to move yourself and all crew to the high side to help balance the boat against the forces. Consider additional ballast such as 5 gallon Jerry cans filled with water. Gusts will tend to swing her windward, and that is good, since the result is usually the "spilling" of some air which helps keep the boat upright! If the wind picks up and the boat begins to heel uncomfortably, you will most likely also feel a strain on the tiller as you try to hold course. Cat rigged boats are notorious for having strong "weather helm" in moderate to strong winds and the remedy is to "heave to" , or head for a protected cove and reef that sail before continuing on. Hen boats are designed to sail relatively flat on the water, not heeled over like soft chined sloops. You will notice that she will actually sail faster (and certainly under better control) with the sail set at a sensible reef and the lee rail well up from the water. Reefing as the wind is blowing is never an easy matter. Make sure all reefing lines and equipment have been put in place ready to go before you set out. Secure your "stuff" as completely as possible. You will be amazed at the amount of flotsam you can release during a knockdown! Close all hatches and openings and try to anticipate wind changes ahead of time so that you can reef early, before things get really difficult. After all, if the wind mellows, you can always untie the reef under more favorable circumstances since you cease to be dashed about!
Centerboard, Bildgeboard, Leeboard Adjustments:    When beating, or on a close reach in gusty winds, the pressure on the centerboard is enormous.  When you are hit by a gust, the boat tends to suddenly heel and threatens to capsize not only because of the when pressure on the sail, but also because of the centerboard pressure which is helping to trip the boat over.  By raising the board some, perhaps a quarter to a third, when the wind increases, you will make more leeway  allowing the boat to "skid" sideways instead of tripping on the board, reducing the heeling moment.  You'll have to determine how much to raise the board, as each boat is different.
          If you have bildgeboards or leeboards consider using the windward board in gusty conditions.  The newer Bay Hens, Dovekies, and Sea Pearls should consider this.  As the boat heals, less board is in the water, reducing the tripping force
          Such board adjustments should be considered a temporary measure until the boat can be gotten to a protected area for reefing.
          When the board is raised on the Bay Hen the center of lateral resistance is also brought somewhat aft reducing weather helm. In those instances when you are caught out in unexpected heavy weather on a beat or reach, you may, for a short time, "spill air" as seems prudent by easing the sheet and allowing the upper section of the sail to luff. This is called using a "fishermen's reef." It permits the boat to remain upright but places extra stress on the sail, and the procedure should be used for short periods only. But, do use this technique when the safety of the boat and crew is at risk. Heading up with careful tiller adjustments during strong puffs also accomplishes much the same thing, and if conditions allow, slackening the peak of a gaff sail can also help depower the boat.
          By all means wear your PFD and hang on to that sheet with your hands, not cleated as is most often the case in light air.  Some sailors favor wearing a harness with a line and carabiner to attach the crew to the boat.  Should the boat capsize, it could easily drift way before the occupant(s) can get a hold onto it. Then again with such an emergency line there is the risk that such a line could serve to entangle the crew.

6.4.4 Reaching

          While reaching in heavy weather, keep a constant eye to windward for signs of increasing wind strength. Upcoming "puffs" are usually first noticed by heightened water disturbance, or by the wind's effect on neighboring vessels. As necessary, luff the sail by easing the sheet, but keep her moving, otherwise all rudder control will be gone! Hold the sheet with your hands, uncleated and tidy, ready to run free during unexpected gusts. Immediate and complete flexibility is needed to trim sail and to deal with wind strength and direction changes. Raising the centerboard slightly on some boats moves the center of lateral resistance aft and helps improve weather helm. But if there is any doubt about control, turn into the wind and drop all sail, or quickly find a spot that allows for immediate reefing.

6.4.5 Running

          Whenever possible, try to stay off of a dead run. With strong winds and usually a following sea, control is greatly jeopardized. Do not sail "by the lee."  Should the rudder rise above the water, the boat will swing uncontrollably broadside with often disastrous results (read knockdown). When on a run or broad reach in heavy weather, don't allow the boom to swing out too far, and keep the crew weight towards the center of the boat. In general, weight should be moved forward while beating and brought aft while running. It is best to keep the boat off of a dead run during blustery conditions because there is a good chance for an accidental jibe. An unintended jibe risks not only the safety of the crew but it puts tremendous force on the sail, rigging, and spars. You can help avoid these dangerous moments by steering carefully, but decidedly, off of a dead run. Following waves can easily throw a boat off course and set up conditions for an accidental jibe! When the wind blows hard enough to require a second reef, open water also develops quite a chop. Sailing becomes extremely difficult and labored, especially to windward, and it is time to make way with haste to the nearest protected area. Hen boats are not designed to be sailed by hiking out like the crews of catamarans and small performance dinghies enjoy. Likewise, avoid sailing near the lee shore. A lee shore forces you to sail close hauled, the most stressful direction for you and your boat, to escape the dangerous shallows. You need a route with open water to leeward so that, if you must drop your sail and drift, you will have a large area free from peril. When the weather gets uncomfortably strong, use your engine (if you have one and it will start). Steer into the wind, drop the sail, then head for shelter!

6.4.6 Coming About

          Remember to give the commands to ready your crew and execute the new tack. It is extremely important that all hands know exactly when you will be coming about. You and your crew must synchronize movement to coincide with the crossing of the boat's boom. Push the tiller leeward, and, as the boat turns windward, the crew must shift first to the center, than continue on to the opposite side to balance the boat with the wind now coming from the other direction. Instruct all not to change position suddenly or prematurely, for too much weight may be placed on the wrong side (leeward) with possibly disastrous results (read knockdown!) As the winds and waves increase, you can easily find yourself "in irons" while coming about. The sail whips and flutters noisily, you are dead in the water, and have absolutely no rudder control. The boat has stalled, but then begins drifting backwards. To remedy the situation, put the tiller over to the side you wish the bow to go. If the boat does not respond then force the boom over to the same side as the tiller. As the bow moves away from the wind let the sail go and allow it to fill. Give the boat a chance to gain momentum, adjust the sheet and rudder, and get under way on your new course. On some boats it can be helpful (perhaps necessary) to raise the centerboard.
          In a gaff rigged boat, assure that the lazy jacks have been adjusted so that the boom does not hit the gallows.  Check this adjustment often, because if the boom gets stuck as it crosses the gallows, the sail will take the full strength of the wind and you may capsize.  This adjustment can be made so that when you strike sail, and pull the boom in, it will come to rest on the gallows with a little tension on the sheet.

6.4.7 Jibing

          Section 6.3.6 discussed jibing in light air. But you must think carefully about executing a jibe in stronger winds and follow these steps only if you are well prepared and you know you will have full control of the boat through the entire jibing maneuver:

1.   Warn all crew by calling out "prepare to jibe"; the crew should be trained to keep heads (and other body parts) down and shift to the opposite side of the boat at the appropriate time.
2.   Assure the wind is dead aft or slightly over the side opposite the sail.
3.   Pull in the sheet until the boom is almost overhead, carefully flaking the sheet in preparation for its release on the opposite tack.
4.   Maintain rudder control to keep a safe heading.
5.   Keep the sheet taut, call out "jibe ho" and ease the tiller away from the boom until the wind catches the opposite side of the sail.
6.   Immediately engage the rudder to force the boat to hold a nearly downwind course.
7.   Adjust the sheet, releasing it quickly, but steadily, on the new tack. It is important to restrain the boat from swinging too far off as the sail is brought over. If wind forces are not compensated for, there can be serious results (read knockdown!).

           If the sail is not reefed sufficiently for a safe jibe consider a 270 degree maneuver where you actually first point upwind and come about before going downwind on the new tack.

6.4.8 Preventing a Knockdown

           One memorable capsize was witnessed on the Miles River near St. Michaels on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It was a very windy day and a log canoe race was about to begin. Log canoes are large boats built for speed. They have enormous sails and require the crew to hike out on long hiking boards. The starting gun sounded and the canoe captains jumped in the water and swam towards their boats. A unique way to start a sailboat race! As the captains approached their boats, the crews were frantically getting their boats underway, timed of course, to ensure pick up of their respective captains. Soon the boats were underway and bearing down on the onlooker's position which was just outside the harbor. The sight was magnificent. The narrow, fast, boats of 30 to 45 feet in length were already well heeled over, even in the relative protection of the harbor. Some were carrying full sail, a large club footed main, a nearly identical mizzen, and a large jib. Others had only the jib and mizzen up, the smart ones! As the boats neared the mouth of the harbor, they began feeling the full force of the wind and crew members started moving out on the long hiking boards to counter the wind's force on the enormous sail area. Ken Murphy, who witnessed the event, said, "One boat with full sails came right up close to us. It hissed through the water, sails so large they blotted out all of St. Michaels, the two 50 foot unstayed masts bending in the wind. The heaviest crew members were fully hiked out on the boards, when the full strength of the wind took the whole thing over, the masts and sails crashing into the water and the crew abandoning ship. I was trying my best to take all of this in, knowing full well it was a once in a lifetime event. The last few seconds of the capsize went like slow motion. The crew's vain attempt to counteract the wind's force, the wind gripping the boat and bringing it down, the crew's resignation as they were dumped in the cold spring water. But, what caught my eye, as a special delight, was the actions of the helmsman/captain. As the boat went over, she stepped up quickly, perfectly balanced, and got up on the side of the boat staying nice and dry and giving orders to the soaked crewman as they began to remove the two enormous masts in preparation for a tow. As she gave the orders, her left hand was busy directing this way and that while her right daintily kept hold of a can of beer."
          You really don't want to capsize. It's a mess and can be dangerous especially if you plunge into cold water. One exception would be as a drill where you have others standing by to assist you and the boat is emptied of all valuables while you are sailing in heavy winds just to practice and learn your boat's limitations and how to deal with strong weather. The previous subsections of "Sailing in Heavy Air" need to be fully considered and the skills practiced. The following, though some what redundant, discusses further the actions needed to prevent a knockdown. An important thing to remember is that SWS boats were never intended to be ocean going vessels. They were intended to be used in protected waters to explore "where the water meets the shore". SWS boats are basically "warm water boats" and are perfect for what they were intended to be, camp cruisers. They are quite stable boats, but they do have their limitations.

6.4.8.1 Keeping a Weather Eye and Reefing Early

           Learn to judge the wind before raising anchor. Many anchorages are protected from the wind and so you need to develop a sixth sense to judge the unprotected wind and wave conditions and to factor in the weather forecasts. Reefing in the quiet of the anchorage is far better than struggling to reef in wind and waves. Review your planned route and if heavy air is expected modify the route to minimize fetch. You also want to avoid a lee shore. Always try to keep a good distance from such a shore. If anything happens that stops your progress you might find yourself being blown up to that shore with possible damage to the boat and yourself. With enough distance from the lee shore you will have time to get the boat back sailing or get an anchor out and set.

6.4.8.2. Dealing With the Puffs

          Keep the main sheet uncleated and the sheet free in the case you need to quickly release it in a heavy puff. When going to windward keep the boat as high as possible where a slight course adjustment toward the wind will begin depowering the upper section of the sail. Raise the centerboard somewhat as discussed in the last section.

6.4.8.3 Ballast, Both Static and Dynamic

          A practiced crew (dynamic ballast) will move about the boat to maximize the use of their own weights to keep the boat as level as possible. The addition of "static" ballast is a possibility in our SWS boats, especially when single handing. The use of well placed five gallon water containers are welcome to add a little ballast.  Some SWS members have added lead ballast.

6.4.8.4. Dangers of Downwind Sailing

          At first it might be surprising to know most knockdowns of SWS trailerable boats occur while the boat is going downwind.  A strong puff can overpower the boat's rudder control, sending it broad side to the wind with the wind driving the boat down. It is for this reason that reefing conservatively when faced with a downwind leg in heavy air is strongly recommended.  In fact, you should over reef because in a heavy wind a small amount of sail is all you need to get the boat up to hull speed.  So there is little change in the speed, but a great change in the stress on the rigging (and crew).



6.5  Sail Alternatives


When last I saw the ship called Sanity, cut through the choppy sea and rain; I felt a bit of gravity, as I looked up at the barren mast. Across the channel, across the bay, on iron sail, forged the good ship Sanity

                                                                Kaz Campe

           Purists, and among them are world cruisers, will use no alternate source of power for their boats other than rowing or sculling. Other sailors governed by the modern restraints of schedules, availability of leisure time, lack of expertise, and the demands of maneuvering their little ships in close and crowded quarters or against unfavorable tides and winds resort to the engine, the "iron sail," or some say the "iron wind."

             6.5.1 Outboard Engines

          Shallow water boats such as the Dovekie presents some particular requirements for auxiliary power.  Because the boats are relatively light, there is no necessity to overpower them with large, expensive, and unwieldy motors. Two to three and a half horsepower is sufficient to drive such boats in most conditions.  Our concerns are usually about getting back home when the wind dies, maneuvering at a crowded ramp, or motoring in a waterway too narrow or too protected from the wind to sail through.  In these cases we need small, easily handled, and easily operable motors.  The following aspects should be those you want to consider most carefully:   weight, features, reverse, how easily can you back up under power? Sailboats are unwieldy in reverse as opposed to powerboats with their ample power and directional control combined in one unit.  With a directional control in one hand (the boat's tiller), the throttle in the other, a shift lever to contend with, and possibly the outboard's tiller handle as well; it's easy to be a hand or two short as well as confused: not the place to be in a crowded situation.   Some newer small engines have the shift and the throttle combined in the one handle that helps considerably.    An outboard with a reverse gear is more easily managed than one that has to be pivoted 180 degrees as the latter drives your stern sideways before you begin to reverse and sideways again as you turn the motor again to go forward.
          The smallest of the outboards commonly come with internal fuel tanks that hold rather small amounts of fuel, requiring refueling from a gasoline can while afloat during your journey, an inconvenient and sometimes messy process.  An engine with an external tank carries more fuel, frequently enough for the entire season if the engine is used sparingly.
          Size has to do with a combination of weight and horsepower already discussed above.  Generally, you are probably best off with the lightest and smallest motor practicable considering the conditions under which you sail.  It makes no sense to have a motor of more power than will drive your boat at hull speed under the most adverse conditions you expect to normally encounter.

             6.5.2 Electric Motors

          The electric motor is a viable alternative for powering light boats such as the DOVEKIE provided you keep in mind that the thrust they develop is very limited, and that they draw down the battery power available rather quickly.

          The following considerations should therefore be kept in mind:

Motors:  Electric motors are light!  Choose the most powerful (greatest thrust) you can afford.  Even the most powerful will probably not drive your boat at hull speed; and, even if it will, you can run it at a more economical lower power setting under normal conditions and have reserve power available for adverse conditions.

Batteries:  You need deep cell 12 volt batteries as they store more energy for a constant battery drain than starting batteries such as the one in your car that needs to supply a short burst of high energy to start your engine. Two batteries are better than one as you will have a backup when battery #1 runs out of juice. Batteries are heavy but this is not all bad. You can use them for ballast to great advantage on some of the Hens if you have sufficiently long cables to get them forward. Recent advances in battery technology offer a wonderful choice of batteries, including AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries which can even be submerged without being harmed. The West Marine catalog is a good    source of information on this topic as well as on many others.  Use adequate sized cabling and fuses sized just above the highest expected current for each circuit.  Place the battery in a good quality battery case.  This will protect the batteries from water and from dangerous shorting of the battery by such metal objects being placed across the battery terminals.  Design a simple charging system.  In my case I installed a female cigarette lighter plug in the boat.  This not only allows me to plug in such things as my GPS while cruising, but when ashore I plug in my charger into the same plug for easy charging.  I replaced the charger clips with a male cigarette lighter plug.  I was very careful to keep the correct + and – polarity when making this modification.  I can still use the clips for my car by placing them on a cable extension that has a female cigarette lighter plug on the other end.     

Cost:   An electric outboard of adequate power and a couple of high capacity, high tech batteries, cables and charger (better yet, solar charger) can cost as much as a good outboard. If your powering needs are minimal however, electric might well be the way to go as it can be considerably less expensive than even a small outboard.

Pros:  Quiet, nearly silent; inexpensive if small (low thrust); clean (no gas or oil); little environmental impact; lightweight (not counting the battery/batteries). Have multiple reverse and forward speeds. Virtually no maintenance other than a wiping down occasionally.

Cons:  Develop less power than any but very small outboards. Batteries must be charged frequently requiring a charger.  Expensive if powerful (high thrust), and if you have the "whole nine yards": long cables, multiple batteries, charger, etc.


             6.5.3 Oars & Paddles

          Many owners use sail their shallow water boats without auxiliary power, preferring to use oars.  In fact, oar power has attracted numerous sailors to the Dovekie.  Why row instead of using an outboard?  It is fun!  It is ecologically sound! It is quiet!  It is much easier than maintaining an outboard motor!  It provides excellent exercise!  It is cool - if you like Saabs and telemark skiing you should row your boat!  The Dovekie is designed specifically to be rowed!  Oars provided with the Dovekie are either ash or maple, and are 9 or 9 ½ feet long. Spruce oars are not durable enough, but synthetic oars might be an option.  Many owners carry a spare oar.  Replacements can be had from Shaw and Tenney, the original supplier (see their website).  Some owners place sleeves and collars on the looms of the oars - it makes it much easier to row, and is easier on the wrists.  Also the oars are less likely to go overboard if left unattended.  Leather sleeves are available from Shaw and Tenney or marine suppliers.  Plastic sleeves are available from Concept 2, Alden Watermark, or other suppliers.  To row, remove as much resistance as possible - retract the centerboard, leeboards, and rudder.  Lower the mast if possible (one may row while the sail is up in a very light wind to improve speed).   Secure the rowing thwart.  If you like a foot brace, secure it in place.  Or, use non-skid tape on the floor if you want.  Open the oar ports, and secure them.  Place the oars through the ports one at a time, by first moving the handles up through the forward hatch, and then swinging the blades through the ports (oars are stored handles forward). Raise the   bars or oarlocks, and begin rowing.  The boat will start slow - no need to try to get to speed quickly.  Once a comfortable speed is reached it will be easier to maintain momentum. It is quite difficult to feather these oars, and not necessary.  As Peter Duff pointed out, plan early how you will retract the oars when coming alongside a solid object - you don't want to receive a blow to the stomach.  Rowing the Dovekie can be quiet satisfying, and good distances can be made when necessary.  For moving the Dovekie and other shallow water boats for short distances, without the trouble of rigging the oars, try sculling.  See the next section. 

              6.5.4  Sculling


        A comprehensive 2 part article by Ben Fuller appeared in #45 (Nov. '85) and #46 (Jan. '86) of Small Boat Journal, and was reprinted in Wooden Boat #100, June 1991, and now has been published, complete with Sam Manning's sketches, on the World Wide Web at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/6383/yuloh2.htm

We have duplicated this article on our web pages to assure it does not get lost.


Article taken from
WOODEN BOAT #100, June 1991. Many such articles are in each publication and provide a wealth of information to the Boating Industry. Please purchase and support this magazine. Reprints can be obtained at the Wooden Boat web site or by calling or writing WoodenBoat Publications Inc. PO Box 78, Naskeag Road Brooklin, Maine 04616 USA ........Tel: 207-359-4651 Fax: 207-359-8920

Text and illustrations by S.F. Manning

Click on each image to make bigger.

"Notch" snorted Robbie Weatherford as he swept up an oar from the float.  "Ye don't need a notch if ye do it right!" With that he thrust the Oar over the side of the float we were standing and began a vigorous twiddling with it that sent wavelets breaking into the mangrove roots, just beyond.  I could feel the float depress under the force of' his oar.  As he yanked it back and forth while demonstrating how a sculling oar should be handled, the loom of that oar stayed right where he'd placed it on the edge of the float,  there was no notch or crack or anything there to keep it put.

Happily, I'd remembered my mother's admonition that you never tell it cowboy that you can ride a horse.  You say, "I'll try."  And try I did for that 75 year-old Man 0' War fisherman who'd sculled boats all his life the Bahamian way.  But I couldn't get the oar to stay put without restraint where it crossed the edge of the float.

The fact is that I too, have been sculling boats all my life, starting on a farm pond way back during the Depression.  But up North we do it differently or perhaps I'd never taken notice of how other people scull boats.  Robbie's stroke was more powerful than mine.  He could make it Man 0' War dingy-boat move as if it were inspired by a small outboard. His oar was straight, narrow bladed, and fully as long as the boat he sculled.  Bahamians scull.  They do not row, with two oars, nor do they use sweeps.  It was once common to see a Bahamian sloop or schooner being sculled by a single oar over the stern when the breeze failed.  A single long oar is often primary or auxiliary equipment in boats of that region.  The sculling notch, if used at all, is very shallow.

What is sculling?  Sculling is traditional way of propelling a boat or vessel through the water by means of a single oar mounted on, or worked from the stern.  Consider the various types of oars and how they're used.  A paddle is gripped in the hands and is pulled independently of the boat.  A rowing oar is pivoted through a lock on the gunwale or a port in the boat's side and is pulled or pushed from a position just inboard of the pivot point.  Small-boat oarsmen normally pull two oars at once over opposite sides of the boat.  A sweep is a long rowing oar that is pulled through it pivot point located oil the opposite side of the boat front the oarsman.  A scull is another name for a shortrowing oar.  A sculling oar call be a rowing oar, a sweep, or even a paddle operated through a pivot point in a propeller-like stroke that pushes the boat front behind.  A breed of oars specialized to sculling has evolved in many, parts of the world over millennia.  The best known of these are the Bahamian oar, the "slat" of tile Chesapeake watermen the bent scull float oar of the duck gunners, and the yuloh of the Chinese.  We'll examine the strokes used by scullers, and then we'll have a look at the various oars.

Allied to Sculling, and Sometimes described as sculling, are two types of stern propulsion that most boatmen have done at one time or another.  The first might best be called "levering".   This entails jamming all oar blade straight down over the stern and giving the loom at hearty yank forward.  A boat moves convincingly, if erratically this way.  The second might be called "fishtailing".  Here the tiller of, a small boat is it quick yank in one direction and then a quick yank in the other, back and forth in a vigorous motion.  The effect is to push water with the outboard side of the rudder blade. Dinghy sailors often use this technique to gain steerage in light airs or to move the boat without sails from dock to mooring.

The oar-sculler's stroke is simple in principle, but it is difficult to learn by watching someone do it.  Sleight of hand, not easy for a sculler to convey to the watcher, is involved.  Basically, the oar is run into the water over the boat's transom, angled outward and downward about 45 degrees, and pivoted atop the transom.  The oar is rotated slightly so that the blade becomes a kind of diving plane.  The loom is pushed against the pivot point so that the depressed edge of the blade cuts a path through the water, angling toward the stern of a boat on one side.  When the limit of the stroke is reached, the blade is rotated so that it dives in the opposite direction.  The loom is now pulled against the pivot point until the blade reaches the end of that stroke.  The oar is again rotated and the first stroke repeated since the loom of the oar is bearing against the boat's stern, the back pressure oil the blade as it cuts obliquely through the water shoves the stiffly held oar, and the boat itself forward.  Simple enough, but this whole description reads the same whether one leading edge is utilized, or two. Thus my in frustration in watching Robbie Weatherford sculling without a notch in which to pivot the oar, and possibly your frustration if you've made the effort before We'll get back to it.

Why scull, why not row?  Well there are, times when a boatman find himself with only one serviceable oar.  At other times there might be neither established rowlocks nor deck room to swing two oars or a long sweep.  The sculler, usually standing to his oar has a clear view ahead and can maneuver through clustered boats, marsh channels, or ice leads where oar room is lacking on either side.  The sculler call propel his boat ahead or astern by simply reversing his stroke while standing in the same posture if his oar notch has been closed with restraint at the top.  He can spin the boat around within its own length.  He call move it sideways if he positions his oar over the side amidships.  The sculling oar, like the canoe paddle, is a water lancet that offers tremendous potential for those who can exercise skill.  With a suitable oar you can propel a dinghy, a motorboat, a gondola, a barge, a junk, a schooner.  It's all been done to practical advantage, somewhere in the world.

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Is sculling faster than rowing?  For most of us, no. However, on one morning several years back, my wife and I were overtaken and passed by the black skipper of a Bahamian yacht who was sculling a rubber inflatable.  Susan and I were double rowing a Banks dory at a reasonable clip.  The Bahamian was working his single (plastic!) rowing oar through one of the oar grommets in the inflatable's side.  The thing was moving fast and forward.  It wasn't even crabbing.  Now, there was skill with an oar.  We gaped, as did others.

While Robbie Weatherford made that float gyrate under our feet with his powerful Bahamian sculling stroke, I began to feel the frustration that others have exhibited during my efforts to teach them how to scull at home.  Robbie and I both seemed to be doing the same thing: the oar was run into the water and pivoted at the edge of the float while the blade cut a zigzag path toward our feet.  His oar stayed put and propelled water vigorously.  Mine flopped about on the edge of the float, and the blade stayed pretty much where I'd run it in.  I longed for a deep notch, all oarlock, tholepin, or even a lashing over the oar at the edge of the float to show this old man that I could really do it.


scull4

Clearly it was he bottom of a notch that was important to Robbie's way of sculling.  I needed a deep notch with sides.  Susan and I were home from the Bahamas it dawned on me what the distinction was, and why it had been too obvious to be seen that day.  The distinction is this. Robbie's Bahamian oar operated like a double edged sword being wielded side to side in a shallow falling-leaf pattern.  Both edges of the blade were alternately the leading edge as the oar- cut the water- back and forth.  The flat of the blade was essentially horizontal, with the leading edge depressed slightly to make it dive as the oar moved in that direction. At the end of the zig stroke, Robbie rotated the loom just slightly to depress the opposite edge to make it dive oil the zag stroke.  His effort, if any, seemed to be in pressing the loom downward on his side of the pivot point so that the upper side of the blade pushed water away from us in the course of each cutting stroke.  With Robbie pressing downward on the grip, at one end of the oar, and with water- pressing down on the flat of the blade at the other, the middle of the loom stayed right where it was on the edge of the float despite the tweaking and rotating that made the stroke work.  Had he been in a boat instead of on a moored float, the oar would have driven the boat forward instead of pushing water astern.  As the boat's speed increased, Robbie would have added more and more angle to the diving edge of the oar so that it steepened the path of the zigs and the zags.  If he didn't, the oar would float up or he would have to increase the frequency of strokes in order to keep up with the moving boat.


scull5 The Bahamian sculling stroke, as show me by Robbie Weatherford is a falling-leaf Pattern with the blade cutting both ways in a horizontal stroke.  It is a powerful stroke, not tiring and well suited for long-haul propulsion.  The sculling stroke that I'd grown up with looked about the same but was very different in its effect.  Here the oar is operated like a single-edged knife cutting a downward, slalom pattern in the surface of the water.  There is only one leading edge employed.  The flat of the blade floats vertically in the manner of a steering oar, which it essentially is, in this form of sculling.  For a power- stroke, the oar is rotated slightly so that the lower- leading edge can be slashed across the stern in one direction, rotated back, and slashed the other way.  The blade is given considerable twist (toward horizontal) at the outset of the stroke when the boat is stopped or moving slowly, then less and less angle is applied as momentum is gained and the slalom pattern is deepened.  At maximum speed about 2 1/2 knots for me in a good skiff, the wagging back and forth has narrowed considerably and the blade remains almost vertical on both left and right strokes.  The end result is almost fishtailing with an oar in the manner of the rudder scullers.  But you can see why rise of a deep notch is necessary for this vertical or slalom stroke.  The sculler's effort is directed as much sideways as downward on the grip of the oar.  Without a notch, the loom slips.  There are merits to both the vertical and the horizontal sculling strokes.  The latter is at more powerful propulsive stroke because the force vector against the water is more directly astern.  The body weight of the sculler is the main force pressing the loom downward to lever the boat forward.  Only at little effort goes into guiding the oar from side to side.  Steering is accomplished by loading the oar more on one slash than the other or by giving it more angle to increase side resistance. A long oar is highly desirable.  The vertical stroke in my hands is best for a jackrabbit start in still water and it is more responsive for intricate steering through congested areas.  But it can be more wearing on the sculler over a long pull because arm strength, not body weight, is the main propellant.  The fishtailing aspect of the vertical stroke demands side-to-side exertion against the resistance of water.  The force vector of each stroke is more diagonally astern today I combine the two strokes.  The vertical stroke is an excellent "low gear" for underway and for threading the boat through crowded harbors.  Then I shift to "high", with the horizontal to make speed and distance.  There are variations but these are the two basic strokes that scullers use.

You also can scull a boat in reverse. Its the horizontal stroke falling upward rather than down. You'll need a loop or lashing over the oar's loom where it crosses the transom because you'll be lifting the grip rather than pressing it down to make the blade "climb" astern.  Try it. You'll be applauded.

scull6
In mid-June of 1983 an informal group of sculling enthusiast met at Camden Harbor to try out various kinds of strokes and oars.  The group was organized by Ben Fuller then curator of the Mystic Seaport Museum who was researching an article on sculling for Small Boat Journal.  The event was hosted by editor Dan Segal and his wife,  Judy who had traveled from Vermont to participate.  Lance Lee, then director of the Rockport Aprenticeshop gave us a demonstration of Bahamian sculling done with a proper Bahamian oar.  Lance had spent much of his boy hood Man O' War Cay, where he'd learned to scull under the critical eye of old Robbie Weatherford and other local fishermen.  The oar, lie pointed out was always operated from the port side of the transom allowing the sculler to lean into the oar on one stroke and too pull it back with both hands on the other.  This placement allows relief of the right hand for fish over the side.  A shallow notch was desirable.  Lance bent to his work with a slow, easy rhythm.  He leaned into the oar with both hands on the push stroke; then, thrusting his right arm out horizontally to cause overbalance on that side, he leaned to the right while towing the grip of the oar with his left.  The boat he sculled boiled along.  He used a straight, thick, narrow-bladed 11' oar .

scull7

Dave Jackson of Camden an enthusiastic duck gunner, showed us how the duck hunters scull.  His boat was a camouflaged fiberglass reproduction of the traditional Merry-Bay gunning "float" with pointed bow, flared sides, and round-bottom.  It was fully decked except for a narrow cockpit stretching from about center to nearly all the way aft.  The wide transom was pierced on the port side for a tight oar port that accommodated only the looms of his sculling oar.  The oar was square lightly fashioned and curved along its whole 7' length so that it arced nearly 3 " upward when laid flat on the ground Dave stretched full length in the cockpit with his head against the headrest on the coaming, aft, gun (presumably) at right, and the loom of the oar extending into the cockpit over his left shoulder. From his prone hidden position Dave could propel the boat quite comfortably by wagging the oar with his right hand in a shallow figure - over his chest. Since the oar was slightly bent it automatically capsized into the proper diving angle of a horizontal sculling stroke each time the loom was reversed with a push or a pull His stroke was rapid, smooth and efficient Steering was accomplished by lengthening the stroke on one side or the other.

Ben Fuller's classic 16' wooden Delaware Bay ducker is at slim low-sided half-decked, double-ended boat traditionally meant to be rowed or sailed to the gunning site, then poled close to flocks of birds In a departure from tradition.  Ben addled a sculling bracket mounted slightly outboard on an exposed crossbeam just abaft the cockpit coaming.  This boat could be sculled right or left-handed with a bent oar from at lying down position.  Or it could be sculled while sitting kneeling or standing to a straight oar in either a horizontal or vertical stroke.  The sculling/rowing/ sailing (and paddling) capabilities of Ben's boat are plain delights to anyone who seeks freedom with an oar Lines of this common style of American hunting skiff', circa 1870-85 are in Howard Chapelle's A American Small Sailing Craft. We didn't have a Chesapeake 'slat" too experiment with.  Nor was there a waterman to show us how one might be used Tradition has it that they, operate through a V-shaped notch in the stern of' a boat.  Ben Fuller who spent curatorial years at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum could not remember seeing a sculling notched indigenous to the slat-e oar and he wondered whether it might have been worked against alternate Sidles of a protruding stern post.  The "slat" I've drawn was done from an isolated oar in a photo It appears to be a long flat stave of wood molded in a straight taper from the tip of the blade to the narrowed grip.  I can't tell whether the blade end is ribbed on both sides in the fashion of a Bahamian oar or whether it is ribbed or arced only on the upper side as a yuloh would be.  Possibly a knowledgeable reader can tell us.  The flat, sectioned loom of the "slat" would make this oar a natural for the horizontal sculling stroke However, with a deep V-notch it could be used like a steering oar too with a vertical sculling stroke

scull8

No one in our group had operated a Chinese yuloh . Just about everyone was intrigued by the prospect of propelling a large boat with at long bent oar perched atop a pivot and tethered inboard by a lanyard Plenty of photographs have shown Chinese women yulohing lengthy and loaded sampans with abandon Roger Taylor made and used a yuloh as auxiliary power in a 37' skipjack But Roger away that weekend so we made our own a 10footer from a bent oak plank and mounted it on a 14' crab skiff with a trailer-hitch ball for pivot. It worked very well so well, in fact that Jim Benson a bystander drove home and returned with a homemade yuloh that he gave us. He'd given up on it, apparently not having fully worked out the pivot for it before finding a buyer for this boat.  Sad.  With a block attached underneath to receive our trailer ball, it turn out to be a better, wider-blade propeller than the one we had cobbled. Our time together was up before there was opportunity to lengthen its loom to try it out on at lobster boat.

Despite our amateurish handling of a homemade yuloh in at minuscule craft the thing seem to have real potential for someone who doesn't trust his engine. The stroke is easy back and forth with a yank on the lanyard at the end of pass to capsize the oar into the diving angle for the stroke to follow the properly timed yank on the lanyard also gives the blade a bit of a kick outward and upward increasing the power of the stroke considerably.  Deft steering with a yuloh would require more skill than we developed that day.  The yuloh seemed to be an automatic sculling machine that develops a perfect horizontal stroke without any need for skill to keep the oar from sliding.  A full description can be found in G.R.G. Worcester's "The Junks and Sampans of the Yangtze River."  The authority on Chinese water craft notes it would seem that the junks and indeed many seagoing junks have generally straight yulohs which is probably the most primitive variety. The curved yuloh is more generally found on the rivers the man or women at the yuloh holds the rope in one hand and with the other works the yuloh too and fro in a circular manner.  If more than one is at the yuloh the second works the rope while the others work on the loom".

I'm tempted too draw all illustrations for Worcester next paragraph which talks about eight men on the loom and two on the rope the rope-men throw themselves back- wards with great abandon until they lie almost flat on their backs their opposite members doing the same thing bringing them too their feet again.   But I'll leave this drawing for the, future and show instead how the oar actually worked during our trials at Camden.  Man, can you imagine a yuloh the size of a small telephone pole being worked this way by your friends en route to an outer island beach party?

A sculling oar with a shaped blade was brought to our Camden sculling meet by Douglas Martin designer and manufacture of ocean rowing craft based at Kittery Maine.  This oar with an appended upright has one leading edge obviously intended for use in a vertical sculling stroke It was mounted through an oarlock at the end of a slim cross-deck timber much in the fashion of the ducker coating, mounted on Ben Fullers gunning float.  Those who tried Martins oar said it was efficient and easy to use.  I don't know whether or not the oar was patented.  He allowed us to measure it for publication I offer it here in a dimensioned perspective.  Ben Fullers subsequent article "Sculling" A Lesson in One Oarsman ship Part 1 appeared in Small Boat Journal No. 45, (1985). It is a clearly written treatise on handling a straight sculling oar in the horizontal vertical and reverse stroke modes.   Along with this how-to is at good deal of colorful observation of aboriginal sculling in this on that kind of boat as Beth has witnessed it in various parts of the world I must here confess that we coined the words "horizontal", "vertical"' "falling-leaf," and "slalom" as a means to sort out the various ways that sculling oars are handled Part 11 of Ben's article "Sculling Putting Your Best Oar Behind You " appeared in SmallBoat Journal #46(1986). It covered the bent oars of the duckers the yuloh and Doug Martin's scientific blade Now all that remains is for you to learn to scull if you haven't already. If you have neither boat nor oar, practice the various strokes with your hand in the bathtub Grip your elbow (the pivot point with your other hand while you do it. Go out to a dock. Make a "slat" oar. Try it there. It's fun and who knows, knowledge Of sculling may get you home someday if you find yourself up a creek without a paddle.

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Sam Manning learned how to scull when he was eight years old. His stepfather a civil engineer experienced in building harbor works taught him, and Sam's been at it ever since.


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          6.5.5  Polling



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