13 Comments
User's avatar
Ben Bierman's avatar

Started with 3, row, sail, torqeedo. Made it 4 because sometimes I need the range of the Yamaha outboard to make any distance upriver. Does poling with an oar make it 5?

Expand full comment
Roy A Schreyer's avatar

Poling would make it 5! Over achiever! Lol! AllthebestRoy

Expand full comment
Eric Russell's avatar

Between my arthritic shoulders and my beloved's bad back, we do not paddle. Good ergonomics make rowing comfortable. The waters we frequent are not conducive to poling. I used to have a 1 1/2 hp Johnson but when it was stolen from my club's work shed, I never bothered to replace it.

Expand full comment
Jerry McIntire's avatar

Sail, row, motor for the big lake (Michigan) and I should bring a paddle just in case. A paddle is much quicker to deploy than oars. I love to leave the motor at home and row under the overpass to where I can put up the spars.

Expand full comment
Rob Kunzig 57's avatar

Oh shoot - should have selected five, if I included my trailer.

I have Rowing and Stern Sculling in different catagories, I mean how else do you get to 5?

Glad 10 wasn't an option.

Expand full comment
Roy A Schreyer's avatar

All my boats can be rowed, I'd never build something bigger that can't be rowed! But being lazy, I do rely on an outboard (or 2) and I also like sailing. BestRoy

Expand full comment
B. Lane's avatar

I wanted a backup to the backup for my Pelican, and the rap was trying to row that little barge was agony…so I set up stern sculling…and that’s been surprisingly effective and fun to practice.

Expand full comment
George Hume's avatar

My primary boat has 205 horses. It’s primary use is to get me to my other boats that are on my island. Among those boats are at least three with propulsion options. My Mirror dinghy has two sailing and one rowing configuration. My Laser has a rowing option in addition to its standard sailing layout. The kayak and the canoe remain unilingual.

Expand full comment
Rob Kunzig 57's avatar

George, I'm not sure where I should be more impressed, "205 horses" or "my Island."

Since it is more likely the horses are fed with fuel, the "my Island" wins!

Either way, Congrats!

Expand full comment
Tom Rivas LuQue's avatar

Potter 19 with Ida-rudder. Drilled two holes in plastic rudder so I can attach an 1/8”thick plastic fin to the trailing edge of rudder blade. Acts like a fish fin.

I will be able to slowly scowl in calm water with the tiller.

Expand full comment
Rick Thompson's avatar

Only 5? Row, solar electric, standing row, sail, punt pole, double paddle, shore tow line, in order of frequency of use. I gave up trying to keep a quiver of boats ideal for each mission, now I find a way to make the one boat do as many jobs as it can.

Expand full comment
Joshua Colvin's avatar

Excellent! I should have said 5+.

Expand full comment
Brian's avatar

I can and do row my Sea Pearl 21. She is a slug under oars but there is something enjoyable about rowing even if the progress is slow. I have been playing with electric trolling motors and not found them to be ideal. A 55lbs thrust Minn Kota is less than ideal in a 10 kts headwind in a channel. Even at full speed it kept spinning the boat so I break out the 9' oars and although slow I can keep her on course through the channel.

Expand full comment