Row-Wing Description
The Row Wing is a device for converting any canoe or skiff into a sliding seat rowing boat. Designed by Gary Piantedosi, Olympic oarsman and MIT engineer, it is a strong, lightweight, and reliable unit.
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The basic machine utilizes a monorail track and tubular rigger. The monorail is formed of 6061 aluminum extruded from our own custom die. It is designed as a flanged box-beam with radiused longitudinal tracks. The rail is stiff and light and designed so the tracks are protected along each side. This feature allows for unlimited variations of mounting systems for the wheels do not ride below or above the monorail. We designed and had custom tooling fabricated to produce precision screw-machined delrim sheaves. (Molded wheels were rejected for they invariably have a tab from the injection gate or a flash from the mold parting line which produces a bumpy and noisy ride.) The delrin sheaves are mounted on precision ground, sealed, grease-packed, stainless steel ball bearings. These assemblies are bolted to a carriage for the sliding seat. We use six such ball bearing assemblies: four are load carrying and two are captive. We guarantee you will not find a smoother, truer-tracking, or quieter sliding seat for any price.
The rigger wing is formed from 1.25" OD 6061 T6 aluminum. A rigger plate extruded from our own custom die is welded to the center of the wing. The heavy wall thickness of the rigger tube (.125") and design engineering incorporated in the rigger plate combine in such a way that the resulting junction is reliably strong and free of stress risers and fatigue points. The rigger plate is bolted to captive nuts in the bottom of the monorail. The result is an extremely stiff rigger system. The rotational and torsional stiffness of the rigger is enhanced by stern-stays. The stern-stays affix to a tower on the monorail allowing them to clear the gunwales.
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The oarlocks are molded of fiberglass reinforced nylon and incorporate an adjustable locking gate. The locks swivel on our own custom screw-machined stainless steel pins. The pins attach to the rigger tube by means of rigger 'knuckles' extruded from our own custom die. This system produces a rigid non-slip fixture fully adjustable for load (spread between locks), fore and aft pitch (for blade control), and height.
The foot stretchers (foot pads) are independently adjustable for each leg infinitely along the length of the monorail. The footplates are also adjustable for height (depth below seat) and foot size. The Row Wing will comfortably fit children to seven-footers.
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The Row Wing is uniquely suited for converting canoes into sliding seat sculling boats. We have been awarded patents for the way our unit clamps into the canoe. The gunwale clamp is a 2" section of 'C' shaped 6061 aluminum extruded from our own custom die. It has been designed to ring whatever gunwale rails are encountered and compress on the hull. Clamp foot-pads (three other custom extrusions) are provided in angled sets to accomodate various gunwale angles. The pads are fitted with thin rubber cushions with an extremely high coefficient of friction. The clamps will not slip or twist nor will they mar your hull. Adjustable along the length of the rigger are tube clamps (yet another custom extrusion). These pieces can be secured at any point to accomodate any gunwale widths. Their purpose is to provide the round rigger tube with a flange which may be bolted to threaded holes in the gunwale clamps thereby securing the rig in the canoe.
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This system is not meant to support your weight on the gunwales. At either end of the monorail are leveling legs with padded feet which are height adjustable. They make up the distance between the bottom of the monorail and the floor of your hull, thus supporting your weight. It is necessary to remove a thwart, or thwarts (usually fastened with nuts and bolts) to properly position the Row Wing in your canoe but an additional patented feature is that the rigger wing functions as a replacement thwart.
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A canoe has a fine displacement hull that tracks very well. The craft jumps and runs with each stroke. The broad waterline absorbs the pulsing without hobby-horsing. A canoe is an excellent rowing platform and with the 9'8" oars functioning as outriggers, you will marvel at the subsequent stablility.
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The greatest advantage canoes have over other sculling boats, however, is their ability to accomodate passengers or gear. If you have trouble finding a paddling partner, consider how much easier it would be to find a passenger. By shifting the Row Wing fore or aft, you can position the passengers in the stern, the bow, or both. The unit takes up little space in the canoe and can be easily walked by. If the maneuvering gets tight or the water fast, you can always go to the bowand stern and paddle.
After considerable research and testing, we developed the angles, relative heights, and leverage points to insure a solid and direct application of power. The resulting rowing stroke is smooth and efficient. In the final analysis, a canoe fitted with the Row Wing offers the recreational and health benefits of a traditional rowing shell at a fraction of the cost, plus much more.
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