Rowing boats: varieties and selection criteria

Boats are needed not only for movement with any practical purposes. They also allow you to just relax, escape from everyday affairs. In addition, rowing boats are better than motor boats in that they allow you to abandon the use of fuel and lubricants - and their operation is cheaper.

The main difference between the different versions of rowboats has to do with the material they use. In recent years, widespread PVC products. They are increasingly replacing the old rubber models, because they were used out of necessity, due to the fact that there was no alternative. Polyvinyl chloride is simply stronger than rubber, but it must be borne in mind that A lot depends on the specific fabric.

Foreign manufacturers, if we talk about really solid companies, and not about dubious productions somewhere far away in Asia or Africa, use PVC. As for domestic firms, they can also make decent boats, but on one condition - the fabric must be of imported origin. The advantages of PVC are obvious:

• ease;
• compactness when folding;
• the possibility of carrying a watercraft even alone;
• saving energy while swimming;
• the ability to overcome shallow areas and swim along the coast;
• ease of maintenance.

But you need to understand that the lightness of the polymer watercraft means less handling. This problem is especially great on windy days. Judging by the available information, it is not always possible to repair a PVC vessel. Serious punctures cannot be repaired at all. The difference between individual models of polymer boats is related to what kind of bottom they have.

High pressure inflatable bottom modifications are good because the bottom itself is a kind of hard, stable deck. Even the load created by adults does not affect this bottom. However, the vast majority of consumers choose models with NDND - and they are completely right.

Additional benefits will be:

• ease of washing;
• minimum abrasion of the inner sides;
• increased keel.

Aluminum boats are also quite often used. Such boats are made not only abroad, but also in our country. It does not affect the quality. Over the past decades, the quality of stamping and metal processing has improved significantly. A boat made of aluminum is always relatively light, while serving for a long time.

It takes normal metalworking skills to fix it. Special care is not needed at all, and there is no need for additional coloring.

Any aluminum model is purchased directly from the manufacturers. When the documents are drawn up, the boats are sent by mail or by courier. Shipping charges are added to their cost. If the aluminum boat got a hole, simply apply a patch and fix it with rivets. When contacting professionals, you can count on them to weld a hole.

With all the popularity of PVC and aluminum products, wooden boats should not be discounted. They last less than plastic, even when using special water-repellent compounds. However, this disadvantage is fully compensated by the objective advantages of wooden structures. Quality wood has no alternatives in terms of:

• lightness;
• mechanical strength;
• elasticity (resistance to bending).

But the main advantage is not even connected with the practical characteristics of wood, but with the fact that it is a completely natural and safe material. Wood boats are not mass-produced, but to order, which allows us to guarantee their quality factor. True, finding a professional master is not as easy as several decades ago. A real specialist is able to make a boat in 4-5 days.

Of course, rowing helps develop arm muscles and will appeal to all lovers of physical exercise. But if for tourists this mode of movement is quite acceptable, then fishermen, hunters and other people who need a watercraft for business sometimes need to speed up and simplify the ride. In such cases a very valuable acquisition is a motor-rowing boat. The speed when moving on oars for motor-rowing boats is as low as for purely rowing transport, but you can always speed up by starting the engine. These ships are characterized U-shaped balloon.

Typically, the cylinder is divided into a number of mutually sealed compartments. Important: any motor-rowing boat must be registered with the state. The usual length of such a watercraft is 3-3.8 m. Therefore, it can be safely used even on a relatively large body of water. But in order to feel as confident as possible there, it is better to abandon rowing boats and transfer to a full-fledged motorboat.

Quite a few people get inspired by the romance of sailing. If you only need it sometimes, it's worth choosing sailboats. Such designs have been known for a very long time. Suffice it to say that model "Askold-19" based on a prototype presented at the end of the 19th century. The technical solutions worked out over a long time are perfectly adapted to the most severe operational conditions that develop in the Arctic or in other harsh places.

There are many other options for sailing and rowing boats. Some of them are even additionally equipped with a mechanical engine. Such boats should be chosen by people who want to move away from the coast and not take risks.

The choice between single and larger 2-man rowing boats is not as easy as it seems. In any case, it must be remembered that you can’t buy a single-seat watercraft, and then somehow remake it for use by two people. Rather, it is still possible to go out into open water, but on sharp turns, in high waves and in strong winds, the risk of capsizing is very high.

Single boats made of rubber or PVC have a length of no more than 2.2 m. But for fishing and transporting any large cargo, you need to choose one and a half sizes. Then you can safely fish alone, take a child with you (a large dog, a couple of bags of potatoes, purchases) - and not be afraid of problems on the water. Whenever possible, however, a two-person rowing boat should be preferred. It will definitely allow you to transport a rather large load or safely get home if the catch was not large enough.

Some boats and boats come with a cabin. It allows you to wait out a rather strong bad weather or even spend the night when fishing, hunting, rafting on the river takes more than one day. For long passages, it is worth choosing boats with luggage compartments. Thanks to such designs, it becomes possible to collect a large catch, as well as to have a lot of additional equipment and tools on board. Having dealt with these subtleties, you need to see what modifications of rowing boats are included in the top.

Attention deserves "Piranha 100", produced by "Super Stal" LLC. This boat is designed for only 1 passenger. The side diameter is 0.3 m. The assembled floating craft weighs 8 kg, and it can carry up to 180 kg. The manufacturer positions its product as an excellent option for solo fishing.

A good alternative would be "Murenu 300". Its weight is 23.3 kg, and the permissible load is 260 kg.Transportation of 2-3 passengers is allowed. At the request of the owners, a rack or slant that occupies the entire bottom is used. The seams are made by welding.

"Baikal-280" - Another good boat, sold at an affordable price. You can choose an instance with an inflatable bottom. The hull length is 2.8 m. The side diameter is 0.38 m, and the width of the craft is 1.34 m. Baikal-280 takes on board 220 kg with a dead weight of at least 14 kg; PVC fabric has 5 layers.

It is appropriate to end the review on STEFA 240. This boat is sold at a particularly low price and has a wide range of trim levels. Additionally, a mounted transom and slant can be used. The length of the craft reaches 2.4 m with a width of 1.25 m. The weight of the product is 11 kg, and it can take up to 215 kg on board.

But knowing the models included in the rating is not enough. It is also necessary to take into account the nuances associated with the future use of the boat. Hunters should choose boats:

• at least 3 m long (otherwise stability is not guaranteed);
• with the division of the frame into compartments;
• with large diameter cylinders;
• camouflage or discreet coloring.

If you plan to go on a long journey, the comfort of the craft should be no less than for hunting. It is advisable to be able to put a motor sufficient for planing. It is better if the bottom is as rigid as possible. The length of a rowboat for long-distance swims varies from 3 to 4.5 m. A family boat should have the same length, but for it It is also important to have a removable bottom.

For information on which rowing boat to choose, see the following video.