MI12 Launch, and a rowing geometry question

[Nick Werner]

Hi Everyone,
I launched my MI12 today. It's a beautiful boat, and, thank goodness, it floated!

Overall, I'm satisfied. But I felt cramped rowing. My legs were sort of getting in the way, even when I stretched them out straight, and the geometry feels off.

Maybe the pic of me rowing can help you see what I'm talking about. I'm about 6 feet tall. Not sure if that matters.

As far as I know, I built the boat to plans. The seats have a hardwood veneer, which added about a quarter-inch of height.

Additionally, I had the oars resting in the bottom of the oar horns, wrapped in oar leathers. Installing the pins and getting the oars off the bottom of the horn would give me an extra 1/2 or so.

Are there spacers that could help me out? Oarlocks with a long shaft? Am I going to have to install oarlock risers on the gunwales? All of the above?

Thoughts??

[TRC886]

Yes, I see you have a problem...you're hitting your knees before the oars clear the water. IMHO: you need to raise the oarlocks by 6 inches or so. Most rowboats I have seen don't have this problem because the gunnels are 6" or so higher than the seat height.

[Netpackrat]

Had same problem rowing my D5 with 7' oars. I shortened them by a foot which helped a lot.

[terrulian]

I'm very interested in the problem but don't have suggestions. This is a Jacques issue.
Very beautiful work on the boat, she looks great.

[Nick Werner]

Thanks, everyone.

I should add that the oars are 7.5 footers, which was suggested for the boat. I bought them from Sawyer.

[Jeff]

Beautiful boat Nick!!! Jeff

[Nick Werner]

Thanks, Jeff.
Any suggestions on the rowing problem?

[Jeff]

Nick, I have sent your question to Jacques (the Designer). He will get back to you!! Jeff

[Jaysen]

Gotta raise the oarlock or lower the seat. Shorter oar won't buy you much as the angle will remain the same.

[Netpackrat]

Certainly I didn’t mean to suggest taking a saw to a pair of custom oars. Removing a foot from mine was easy because these are what I have:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0775DT8XD/