This is the largest 14 foot rowboat I could find.
The leg room and the stability add greatly to the comfort for old legs that object to being bent.
And yet it is still possible to row it in comfort.
Part of that is the fine plush seats. But I generally sit on the middle bench to row and even here there is more room. I can put my tackle box right on the bench with me. I can sit on a cushion. And none of that interferes with the oars.
My legs are not as cramped while sitting and standing does not requite much balance at all so I can easily stretch.
It is a harder boat to bail, but I noticed that with just me in it, light amounts of water go to the front and out of the way of my rowing feet.
The issue for bailing is that each ribbed section contains its own little puddle of water. And the stability of the boat means that I can't just get in the back and expect my weight to bring most of the water down to me.
I have not tried bailing from the front yet.
Of course, I can get the water out by hoisting the boat up on the ramp where I store it. It has a fine hole in the back and once the plug is out, the water goes out quickly.
Still, it is a heavy boat and getting it positioned for hoisting is a bit of a chore. I'd like better to bail if I am going to use it a few days in a row and the rain is not too heavy.
I may need to put in some floorboards.
I did put in some foam pieces that are nice to push against when I row and would keep my feet out of shallow water.
The metal of the boat gets very hot in the sun. This is a problem if I touch the bench but a benefit for the drying of small amounts of water after bailing deeper amounts.
The 50 pound thrust of the motor is just grand. However, I will need a second battery. The motor means I can row a long way, get tired out, and then come back without effort.
It has so many settings that it will be just fine for trolling.
Reverse is great too. The old electric gave out on me about a decade ago and I went in and wired it so the forward worked, but not the reverse.
And the handle extends so that I can reach it without discomfort. I won't have to extend that.
The split back seats are just a fine innovation. It makes sitting and using the motor much more comfortable than the old bench seat design, and it makes placing the battery and the mounting the motor much easier.
These are very heavy.
Perhaps over time I'll build my strength back up and it will be easier carrying them down to the boat. The new improved stability helps me get them into the boat with only a bit of needed balance.
I need to get some 9 foot oars or perhaps make an oar three inches over 9 feet, which is what feels right.
The outside Smokercraft is a bit odd for me as I don't smoke. I have a thought of covering the "S" with a bluegill decal and the "m" with a similar "p" and so making it very close to my personal Pokerbluegill blog.
It does fit through the large drain pipe that connects the two sections of this lake. In fact, the depth makes it easier for passengers to crouch down.
It is very heavy, but with only me in the boat, it rows fairly easily. I think I could manage to make headway against even the strongest of our winds here in the channel, but it would be a chore. I may put the motor in just to get me home against that wind.
Getting the oar blades to touch the water in a more horizontal and parallel position sure helped get a better grip on the water.
I have not been out at night yet, but I am thinking of what lights I might need to be out at night. Just now it is risk free, and most of the time boats don't run at night, but then there will be a time when someone wants to motor and perhaps motor too fast for good viewing.
Still, I love being on the water and night and I hope to fish some bullhead.
The leg room and the stability add greatly to the comfort for old legs that object to being bent.
And yet it is still possible to row it in comfort.
Part of that is the fine plush seats. But I generally sit on the middle bench to row and even here there is more room. I can put my tackle box right on the bench with me. I can sit on a cushion. And none of that interferes with the oars.
My legs are not as cramped while sitting and standing does not requite much balance at all so I can easily stretch.
It is a harder boat to bail, but I noticed that with just me in it, light amounts of water go to the front and out of the way of my rowing feet.
The issue for bailing is that each ribbed section contains its own little puddle of water. And the stability of the boat means that I can't just get in the back and expect my weight to bring most of the water down to me.
I have not tried bailing from the front yet.
Of course, I can get the water out by hoisting the boat up on the ramp where I store it. It has a fine hole in the back and once the plug is out, the water goes out quickly.
Still, it is a heavy boat and getting it positioned for hoisting is a bit of a chore. I'd like better to bail if I am going to use it a few days in a row and the rain is not too heavy.
I may need to put in some floorboards.
I did put in some foam pieces that are nice to push against when I row and would keep my feet out of shallow water.
The metal of the boat gets very hot in the sun. This is a problem if I touch the bench but a benefit for the drying of small amounts of water after bailing deeper amounts.
The 50 pound thrust of the motor is just grand. However, I will need a second battery. The motor means I can row a long way, get tired out, and then come back without effort.
It has so many settings that it will be just fine for trolling.
Reverse is great too. The old electric gave out on me about a decade ago and I went in and wired it so the forward worked, but not the reverse.
And the handle extends so that I can reach it without discomfort. I won't have to extend that.
The split back seats are just a fine innovation. It makes sitting and using the motor much more comfortable than the old bench seat design, and it makes placing the battery and the mounting the motor much easier.
These are very heavy.
Perhaps over time I'll build my strength back up and it will be easier carrying them down to the boat. The new improved stability helps me get them into the boat with only a bit of needed balance.
I need to get some 9 foot oars or perhaps make an oar three inches over 9 feet, which is what feels right.
The outside Smokercraft is a bit odd for me as I don't smoke. I have a thought of covering the "S" with a bluegill decal and the "m" with a similar "p" and so making it very close to my personal Pokerbluegill blog.
It does fit through the large drain pipe that connects the two sections of this lake. In fact, the depth makes it easier for passengers to crouch down.
It is very heavy, but with only me in the boat, it rows fairly easily. I think I could manage to make headway against even the strongest of our winds here in the channel, but it would be a chore. I may put the motor in just to get me home against that wind.
Getting the oar blades to touch the water in a more horizontal and parallel position sure helped get a better grip on the water.
I have not been out at night yet, but I am thinking of what lights I might need to be out at night. Just now it is risk free, and most of the time boats don't run at night, but then there will be a time when someone wants to motor and perhaps motor too fast for good viewing.
Still, I love being on the water and night and I hope to fish some bullhead.
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