by Eric Coleman

Owners of small cabin cruisers may, like us, find it worthwhile to carry an oar aboard so that their boat can be sculled. The usefulness will depend on the type of cruising and whether a tender is used. Ours is used for the following purposes:-

Shore Manoeuvering When leaving a lee shore, we often push off with the oar and quickly transfer it to the sculling rowlock when there is 6" clear under the keel. Then scull into deep water, hoist sails and ship rudder. If the oar tends to stick in the mud, it can be freed by sharp tugs without pulling the boat back. If we have landed to enquire for a mooring then it is no problem to scull over to it. When landing we also scull. Charging in under sail or power is dangerous. If other boats are there it is likely that there are also one or two anchors just below the surface. The softness of the bottom can be ascertained by prodding with the oar before leaping into soft ooze and the hardest area selected. In narrow harbour or river entrances where the wind can be fickle e.g. Portsmouth, R. Deben, Newhaven, R. Dart a few minutes sculling saves much embarrassment and anxiety.

Anchoring Having anchored and tidied up aboard, we often decide that there is a better spot say 20 yards away. What easier than to up anchor and scull over to the selected spot. If one starts to dry out say in the middle of the night it is the work of a moment to push off silently with the oar without letting all the anchorage know of your mistake.

Shallow water sailing We like to explore the more attractive areas of creeks and rivers, usually the upper reaches. Running aground is frequent but causes no trouble thanks to the oar. If we are tacking when this happens the bow is pushed round to the other tack in a moment. If it is a narrow winding river we use the oar for steering when the wind is free and scull up the windward stretches with the boom temporarily lifted. Sometimes we use the engine and steer with the oar. If we go aground then switch off engine and pole with the oar to deeper water or scull. Poling is often used when the depth is too small for sculling. Where there are frequent mud banks we usually scull because the slower speed, better control of the boat and early warning of shallowing depth make it an easy method of propulsion second only to rowing. In these waters the oar is, of course, convenient for sounding the depth.

Other uses When negotiating among moored craft in a boatyard the mooring ropes can be easily pushed down with the blade tip under the keel so that one can slip over them. On windless days when not in a hurry to go anywhere a little drifting and sculling allows bird and marine life to be watched without needless noise and movement.

The oar is stowed in the only possible position - down the centre line of the cabin when sailing, and on deck held in position by a shroud when we require its cabin room.