PLAN STUDY: Expedition Rowboat

Article by Colin Angus

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My wife Julie and I designed our Expedition Rowboat to solve a logistical problem with an expedition we were preparing for. Our plan was to connect our ancestral homelands of Scotland, Germany and Syria by paddle craft. We were intrigued by the interconnected canals, rivers and shorelines that would allow us to paddle from the northern tip of Scotland, through the heart of Europe up the Rhine watershed, and down the Danube River into the Black Sea and finally the Mediterranean. The idea of paddling 4500 miles through 13 countries seemed like an irresistible adventure, however, there was a catch.

The problem was the lengthy portages we would face. Although the waterways are interconnected, and in theory you could paddle every inch of the way, we knew there were canals that only allowed commercial shipping, and often the currents against us would be too strong.

We wanted to cover the entire distance exclusively by human power, so it was important to have an efficient portaging system to transport the boats for up to a few hundred miles at a time. Julie came up with the idea of towing boats behind bicycles as a way to move quickly overland, however we struggled with what to do with the bikes and trailer(s) on the water. Kayaks are too small to transport bicycles, and canoes are not seaworthy enough to voyage the exposed sections.

Finally, we realized there simply weren’t any boats on the market that fitted our needs, and we would have to design and build the craft ourselves. We spent weeks playing around with design programs and creating various models from cardboard. Eventually we came up with a shape and design that we felt would be suitable for the job, and set to work constructing two boats.

A boat capable of carrying a disassembled full-sized bicycle needs to be significantly beamier than a kayak. Because of this, a double bladed paddle (best suited for narrow craft) would be a poor choice for propulsion. A single blade would be even less efficient; so instead we opted to use a sliding-seat rowing system. A sculling rig is the most effective way of moving a large heavily laden boat through the water because it taps into your largest muscles—back and legs—and works effectively in a wider boat.

With so many miles to travel it was imperative that our boats be efficient. We achieved this by creating a low profile (reducing wind resistance), being as lightweight as possible, and keeping wetted area to a minimum. The hull is a simple design, made from five panels and with a flat bottom. The relatively sharp angle between the bottom panel and the first panel creates effective lateral resistance allowing the boat to track well without requiring a drag-inducing keel strip or skeg. Proportionate wetted area is less than many round-bottomed boats which require keels for tracking.

Equally important, we required the boats to be seaworthy and to offer protection for our gear. The boat was decked, and interior space accessed through large hatches. An oversized hatch in the centre of the boat was large enough to accommodate the frame of a mid-sized mountain bike and disassembled trailer. Both wheels, the seat and one pedal need to be removed for the bike to fit in the middle compartment

Side chambers along the cockpit are shaped so that if the boat does capsize, all water drains out of the cockpit as the boat is righted. This means that you can be underway again within seconds of capsizing. Mind you, after 9000 km of rowing, we’ve yet to capsize accidentally—the boats are stable!

Due to the amount of gear we were carrying, Julie and I each used a boat on our expedition. At home in placid waterways, we prefer to use just one boat. One person can relax in the forward compartment with the hatch removed while the other rows. And we’re still passing the kayaks! Enough room remains in the forward and rear compartments to pack all our camping gear.

Due to its size, the Expedition is significantly heavier than a kayak (weighing in at about 90 lb.), however, it is large enough to carry more than a month’s worth of supplies. Considering the primary purpose of the Expedition is to carry over-sized cargo, even we were surprised by the accompanying performance. Feeling akin to a UPS truck passing a Ferrari at the race track, Julie and I have broken a number of speed records in our Expeditions.

My most recent speed quest involved circumnavigating Vancouver Island, a distance of more than 700 miles through treacherous waters, in 15.5 days, shaving more than a day off the record that has always been held by kayakers.

On our voyage from Scotland to Syria, Julie and I rowed together across the English Channel completing this crossing one hour faster than an Olympic Gold Medalist who used a racing shell. Of course we’re not stronger rowers than a medallist, however, the stability of our boats allowed us to keep moving quickly even in rough conditions.

The concept of our boats is fairly novel, so we were pleased that they performed reliably and without any unforeseen problems. Overall, these boats are very similar to kayaks, but with an entirely different propulsion system. There are very few kayak-like rowboats in use, but our journey illustrated there is no reason not to use such a craft. We are pleased that there has been so much interest in our Expedition Rowboats, and we have developed comprehensive manuals and full-sized plans which are for sale on our website. •SCA•

Boat plans available at www.angusrowboats.com

Expedition plans are $139 Canadian for digital plans and manual and $169 for full-sized plans. A kit version also offered. Book on Scotland to Syria Expedition: Rowed Trip (Random House) by Julie and Colin Angus. Further Information on our adventures: www.angusadventures.com

First published in issue #77