Abstract: An oar assembly for a paddleboard is disclosed herein. The oar assembly according to one embodiment, allows the user to propel in a forward as well as a reverse direction. The oar assembly comprises a shaft having a top end and a bottom end. A first geared coupler having a first toothed surface extends from the bottom end of the shaft. A second geared coupler having a second toothed surface is configured to couple to the first geared coupler. An oar blade extends from the second geared coupler. A pair of brackets is configured for assembly on the shaft, the first geared coupler, and the second geared coupler. According to one aspect, a meshing of the first toothed surface with the second toothed surface facilitates hingeable movement between the first geared coupler and the second geared coupler, and thereby between the shaft and the oar blade.

Abstract: A paddle for use in watersports is provided with shaft halves and blades at the end of each shaft half with a selectable offset angle between the blades. A joint connecting the shaft halves may include an interlocking coupling and a biasing member. The interlocking coupling maintains, in a use configuration, the offset angle of the blades, and allows, in a selection configuration, a change in the offset angle of the blades. The biasing member typically holds the interlocking coupling in the use configuration, and the shaft halves may be moved axially apart for the selection configuration. All mechanisms for switching the interlocking coupling between the use configuration and the selection configuration are normally located within the shaft halves. A retaining clip may be coupled between the first and second shaft halves to allow the selection configuration while preventing disassembly of the first and second shaft halves.

Abstract: A rowing device with articulating oars FIG. 4 that are connected to outriggers FIG. 1 at the point of articulation. While the rower sits on a fixed seat 6, said outriggers 4 are foot operated 2 and function in the opposite direction as the feet through a system of cables 12 and sheaves 11.

Abstract: A sculling boat assembly is provided to control the traveling direction and drive a boat, and the sculling boat assembly installs a transmission mechanism on two hulls, connects an end of each transmission mechanism to a handle extended from the two hulls, connects another end of each transmission mechanism to a paddle rod extended from the tail of the boat, and connects an end of each paddle rod with an extension of a fin-shape member. Through the transmission of each paddle rod, a user applies a force onto each handle to drive the fin-shape member disposed on each paddle rod for the movements of pushing water outward and enclosing water inward, such that the water resistance is converted into a reaction by the soft and hard materials of the fin-shape member and its extension to drive the boat to move forward rapidly.

Abstract: A forwards facing rowing apparatus wherein the usual pair of sweep hinges is replaced by a single, common axis, sweep hinge system mounted to and rockable with the oarlock mainframe and wherein a blade feathering mechanism including a coupling device such as a pair of swing gears is employed at the oarset including a handle loom and a blade loom, one of the gears being driven from a rotating handle at the in-board end of the handle loom while the mating gear drives or rotates the blade at the outer end of the blade loom. Each gear may be affixed to a rotatable member such as a torque shaft extending along the handle and blade looms and connected at opposite ends to both the handle and blade, respectively. Alternatively, the handle and blade looms may be rotatable members and one of the pair of gears may be attached to each member.

Abstract: An apparatus for forward facing rowing of a boat is disclosed. An elongate outrigger support extends outwardly from a mounting point in the boat and has an end adjacent to the mounting point around which the elongate outrigger support pivots horizontally. An outrigger support and handle connector sleeve is slidably mounted over the elongate outrigger support. An elongate handle is pivotally connected to the sleeve to allow the elongate handle to pivot relative to both the sleeve and the outrigger support. A handle and oar connector attaches the outboard end of the elongate handle to an oar within the midsection of the oar. A rotation transfer mechanism in the handle and oar connector causes corresponding rotation of the oar upon rotation of the elongate handle. The handle and oar connector transfers, from the elongate handle to the oar, pivotal and rotational movement as the elongate handle rotates, as well as moves along and pivots around the elongate outrigger support.

Abstract: A reverse boat oar is provided and consists of a mechanism for holding a large gear portion on a distal end of an oar handle arm and a small gear portion formed on a distal end of an oar paddle arm in a meshing rotatable relationship. An oar lock attaches the holding mechanism to a gunwale of a boat, so that when a rower pushes forward on the oar handle arm the oar paddle arm will also go forward. The rower can sit facing the bow of the boat to see where the boat is going.

Abstract: A bow facing rowing system comprising the combination of an oar reversing device and a bracket device for supporting the oar reversing device. The oar reversing device includes a housing having opposing ends which terminate in a pair of upper and lower flanges defining fixed spaces therebetween. A train of gears is disposed essentially within the housing with one end gear of the train of gears forming a first terminal gear having an integral extension passing through the adjacent fixed space and terminating in an oar member and the opposite end gear of the train of gears forming a second terminal gear having an integral extension passing through the adjacent fixed space and terminating in a handle member. The gears intermesh in the same plane to thereby transmit motion in reverse from the handle member to the oar member.

Abstract: Rowing apparatus for propelling an oar driven watercraft in a direction in which the oarsman is facing. The apparatus includes a handle portion, a blade portion, and a transmission mechanism interconnecting the handle and blade portions. Through the transmission mechanism, rearward movement of the handle portion causes corresponding rearward movement of the blade portion to propel the watercraft in the forward direction. Likewise forward movement of the handle portion, as during the stroke recovery, causes corresponding forward movement of the blade portion. Rotation of the handle portion about its longitudinal axis is transmitted via the transmission mechanism to cause a corresponding rotation of the blade portion so that the blade may be axially rotated.