What's the proper way to row a boat?

Question

Okay, so my GF and I got in a funny little argument. We were out in a row boat on the lake and I was rowing.

I was sitting the the boat facing the rear. (The flat end) And rowing by putting the oars in the water and pulling towards myself to make the boat move. From the way I was sitting I was moving backwards, the front of the boat (the V shaped end) was going forward.

She thinks this is wrong. She believes that the rower supposed to face the front (V shaped end) of the boat and row by putting the oars in the water and pulling them to make us move. Thus, the rower is still moving backwards, but the back of the boat (the flat end) is moving forwards.

So which is it? I know, in realtion to the way the rower is facing, the rower is supposed to move backwards, but which way should the rower face? Towards the 'V' end, or towards the flat end?

Another way to put it, which way should the boat( |==> ) move.

A. |==> ----> (Forwards)

B. |==> <---- (Backwards)

Answer 1

gently down the stream?  (sorry couldn&#039;t resist)

Does it matter?  I mean, you are BOTH right.  I&#039;ve always thought if the boat is moving, then HEY! you&#039;re doing it right!

Answer 2

You were doing it right the first time. That way, you sit facing your girlfriend while you&#039;re rowing, instead of having your back to her! You&#039;ve probably seen people sculling ... they sit facing the rear of the boat, with the oars in the hooks, pulling the oars toward them with the boat going forward (in the direction of the bow). That&#039;s why the bow is pointed; it cuts through the water. You don&#039;t ever propel the boat in the direction of the flat end.

If she wants to help you row, you sit one in front of the other facing forward, take the oars out of the hooks, and row like you&#039;re rowing a canoe, with each of you rowing on opposite sides of the boat at the same time so that it moves in a straight line. If you want to turn (this applies for both methods) you just row with one oar, on the side you&#039;re turning toward, or just dip that oar in the water as you&#039;re moving.

Answer 3

merrily, merrily , merrily

Answer 4

like a circle

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