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	domeyerscullboats.com

Monday, September 06, 2010

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How to Scull

Waterfowl sculling is accomplished through the use of a sculling oar which is manipulated in a modified “figure 8” motion while extending through the transom of a scull boat. The object is to conceal the relative movement of your hand and to minimize the side-to-side movement of your boat while slowly moving the boat forward.

The Mechanics

POSITION: You begin by lying on your back and holding the oar with the hand opposite to the side which the scull hole is placed on the boat. Most traditionally the hole is placed on the left side so the sculler would use his right hand. Place the blade of the oar 12-16” under water facing down in the dead center position (flat side of oar on bottom and blade parallel to water surface).

MOTION:

Start your figure 8 motion by getting the feel for the oar. Do this by first a side to side motion. Try to create force with the top of the oar pushing the water.
Now with your oar handle 8-10” to the side of your shoulder rotate the oar a quarter turn inward from the dead center position and draw it through the water towards you.
Now rotate a half a turn in opposite direction and push the oar away from you. This lateral motion will only move the boat side to side but will give you the feel for creating the resistance with water moving over the top of the blade. Adding this to a figure 8 motion will produce the forward thrust.
Now start working on adding the figure 8 to your lateral movement. Again start with the oar handle 8-10” to the side of your shoulder but now lift it 8-10”. In this higher position rotate handle from dead center (flat side down and blade parallel to water surface) a quarter turn and draw it towards you in a downward motion.
Now reverse to complete your figure 8 by slowly starting upward with the handle while you begin your rotation in the opposite direction. You should reach the half turn rotation near the top of the figure 8 while you begin the “push” away in a downward motion.
To complete the motion begin rotating in opposite direction (towards you) while you start the upward portion of figure 8 which will complete the entire sculling motion.

The actual motion of the oar is dynamic. You must rotate the oar a very small amount while keeping it in the figure 8. This rotation keeps the water moving over the top of the blade and the resulting force transfers to the bottom of the sculling hole thus pushing the boat forward. Turning the boat is simply a matter of rotating the oar such that you produce more thrust on a push verses the pull (or visa versa).