Abstract: An oar apparatus configured to remain submerged under water during the power stroke and the return stroke. The oar apparatus has a sheath and a shaft rotationally disposed within the sheath. An oar blade is affixed to the shaft, such that the oar blade is rotational relative to the sheath. The oar blade has a deployed orientation, in which the oar blade is substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the vessel, and a feathered configuration, in which the oar blade is substantially parallel to the movement direction of the vessel. The oar blade is asymmetrical relative to the center axis of the shaft, such that resistance of the water exerted onto the oar blade creates a first moment urging the oar blade into the deployed orientation during the power stroke and a second moment urging the oar blade into the feathered orientation on the return stroke.

Abstract: The clamping device may comprise a platform base, a pair of locking claws, and a mount. The clamping device may be coupled to a base object via the mount. The clamping device may retain a clamped object to the base object using the pair of locking claws. An individual locking claw selected from the pair of locking claws may comprise an over-center linkage resulting in bistable positioning of the individual locking claw. The individual locking claw may transition from an open position to a closed position under the influence of a closing force. The individual locking claw may transition from the closed position to the open position under the influence of an opening force. As a non-limiting example, the clamping device may retain a paddle to a boat by clamping onto a shaft of the paddle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a center-axis oarlock and methods of providing constant gearing throughout the arc of an oar in a boat or shell.

Abstract: A row boat for rowing training includes a hull including a bottom and four sidewalls, and a pair of oars connected to opposing sidewalls, each oar including a handle and an oar scoop disposed as an end of the handle, wherein the oars are configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation to move the oars during a pull phase and a flex phase of a rowing stroke, and wherein the oars are configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation to change an angular orientation of the oar scoop in water during the pull phase and the flex phase.

Abstract: The invention is made up of three major components, a sleeve that is mounted on an oar shaft; a dock, which is mounted to the shell's riggers; and a pair of oar retainers that clamp around the sleeve and pivotally mount to the dock. The sleeve is locked into the oar retainers via a latch. The sleeve has a movable block that has a cam, which engages grooves in the oar retainers. The sleeve and can rotate around its axis, which allows the oar to be feathered. The oar retainers hold the sleeve and allow it to rotate and pivot during the rowing stroke. The dock attaches the oar retainer to the shell or outrigger. Its purpose is twofold: first, it provides a stable vertical platform on which the oar retainers can pivot up and down; second, it swivels left and right.

Abstract: A Forward Facing Rowing Apparatus and the associated vessel. The apparatus has a single attachment point and pivot assembly for supporting the oars. A built-in set of leaf spring elements reduce user effort by providing lifting force to raise the oar members. The apparatus is deployable on vessel hulls of virtually unlimited configuration, while still offering proper rowing leverage between the user's hands and the blades without the need for supplemental mounting systems or outriggers. The apparatus is stowable within the center area of the vessel hull. The positioning of the central pivot point for the oars can be adjusted along the axis of the vessel hull so that it can accommodate a wide variety of user preferences. An alternate design includes a foot-assisted sliding trolley mounting assembly that enables the user to add leg/foot power to the stroking motion. Furthermore, the apparatus is removable from the hull for transport or storage.

Abstract: An adjustable rowlock for changing the orientation of the blade of an oar has a body with a clamp and clamp adjusting means. There is also an oar sleeve having a datum mark to be aligned with a plurality of reference marks arranged on the body. In use, a user may choose from a plurality of orientations of the blade corresponding to the reference marks, to suit the water conditions.

Abstract: An adjustable rowlock for changing the orientation of the blade of an oar has a body with a clamp and clamp adjusting means. There is also an oar sleeve having a datum mark to be aligned with a plurality of reference marks arranged on the body. In use, a user may choose from a plurality of orientations of the blade corresponding to the reference marks, to suit the water conditions.

Abstract: A paddle support assists in rowing a vessel. The paddle is retained in the upper portion of a support that has a base section that rests, preferably unattached or at least readily releasably attached on the floor of a vessel. The support allows the paddle to be freely manipulated unencumbered by attachments to the vessel. The paddle support may be attached to webbing suspended across an opening in the vessel so that a base of the support is attached near the center of the webbing. The paddle support may also be attached to a harness suspended across an opening in the vessel so that the upright support is attached near the center of the harness. The use of the webbing or harness facilitates use of the support with a watertight skirt or covering stretched over the opening of a vessel.

Abstract: A paddle support assists in rowing a vessel. The paddle is retained in the upper portion of a support that has a base section that rests, preferably unattached or at least readily releasably attached on the floor of a vessel. The support allows the paddle to be freely manipulated unencumbered by attachments to the vessel. The paddle support may be attached to webbing suspended across an opening in the vessel so that a base of the support is attached near the center of the webbing. The paddle support may also be attached to a harness suspended across an opening in the vessel so that the upright support is attached near the center of the harness. The use of the webbing or harness facilitates use of the support with a watertight skirt or covering stretched over the opening of a vessel.

Abstract: An oar or scull is attached to the racing shell with an assembly that assures all motions required for rowing and restricts others. Over squaring and over feathering of the blade is prevented using stops which also provide positive feedback of blade orientation to the athlete and eliminate oarlock slap and rattle. Pulling on the oar handle inboard approximately 0.2 inches prior to squaring or feathering the blade moves the oarshaft outboard or inboard respectively, changing the leverage or load, at the completion of squaring or feathering. Normal rowing at the selected load is maintained with a steady outboard force of the oar handle. The oarlock is situated on the bow side of the vertical pin pulling the pin toward the bow during the propulsive phase of the rowing stroke. The vertical pin is supported by rigging which extends from the top and bottom of the vertical pin toward the stern.

Abstract: An oar or scull is equipped with a movable sliding bushing or collar (2, 3) for adjusting the leverage while rowing. For this purpose a locking device (12) normally prevents the linear or axial movement of the oar shaft with a sliding sleeve (8) which is mounted on the oar shaft (1) relative to the locking device. By pushing a button (11) on the handle (10), the locking device (12) will allow a relative movement of approximately 2.5 mm at a time between the collar (3A, 3B) and the shaft (1). Releasing the button (11) allows again a movement of 2.5 mm, whereby a rower is able to adjust the leverage and thus the load while rowing.

Abstract: An improved oar horn assembly includes a socket constructed to be fixed to the side of a boat for rotatably mounting an oar horn. The oar horn includes a ring having a substantially ovular through-hole for receiving the oar. The ovular through-hole is constructed so that it contacts the oar at two points on substantially opposite sides of the oar to thereby support the oar within the oar horn. Since the oar is supported by contact on two opposite sides thereof, ratcheting is reduced. Further, due to the oval nature of the new oar horn design, an increased angle of attach to water may be obtained.

Abstract: A wood composite baseball bat is formed by overlaying a central core of foamed plastic or extruded aluminum with an inner layer of resin-impregnated fiber knitted or woven cloth and then an outer layer consisting of longitudinally extending planks of resin-coated wood veneer. The article is formed by covering the core with the synthetic material impregnated with uncured resin. While the resin impregnating the fibrous material is still unset, the core member is placed within split molds lined with resin-coated strips of wood veneer and the molds are pressed together while the resin is allowed to set to form a unitary mass.

Abstract: The oar disclosed herein is re-enforce by a stay which is anchored at both ends of the oar shaft and is supported near the oar lock location by a brace. The two points, where the stay emanates from the oar shaft, lie in the same plane as a set of points at the tip of the brace. The points, that define the aforementioned plane may be aligned to form a triangle. The triangle is assigned a vertex near the tip of the brace. When the oar blade is normal to the water surface during an oar stroke, the vertex of the aforementioned triangle points downwardly with respect to the force direction of the blade in the water. The stroke forces thereby produce a moment that tends to unfeather the oar blade. The unfeathering of the oar blade must be arrested by an oar lock as soon as the blade surface becomes normal to the water surface.

Abstract: Two sleeves are arranged tangentially and are structurally connected to form the main body of the oar lock. One of the two sleeves, being larger than the other, is dimensioned to allow an oar shaft to pass through the sleeve. This larger sleeve is situated between two collars. The collars, which are secured to the oar shaft on each side of the larger sleeve, prevent the sleeve from sliding along the oar shaft. The smaller sleeve, being externally tangent to the larger sleeve, forms an oar lock body protrusion. Two members, that connect the collars, strike the oar lock body protrusion and serve to limit the oar shaft feathering rotation. The collars provide circumferential oar lock bearing against axial oar shaft loads. The sliding surface between the oar lock and the oar shaft is totally enclosed.