Every sport is meant to give you pleasure as far as you know what you are doing. Same holds for rowing which can prove to be a perfect option to spend a calm yet active Sunday afternoon. But things can soon turn annoying if you are not able to row your boat in the right direction. Steering a boat right requires no IQ of 150+ or experience of a veteran rower. However keeping a few simple tips in mind can make process a whole lot easier.
Longer boats, with their streamlined shape, require substantially less amount of effort. Wider boats do provide greater stability which helps you keep the boat leveled flat over water. But with the right width to length ratio, everything should work out just fine. Experts claim that the best W:H ration should be 1:4. Moreover with a bit of weight adjustments, steering should be a breeze. The idea is to distribute your weight equally around the boat and try to place yourself right in the middle so that neither the front nor the back of the boat sticks out of the water. The weight of the gear you are carrying should be spread out across the shell.
One can also gain better leverage and control by choosing the right size and shape of the oars. To row your boat to the left, hold your left oar stationary while working your way through the right one to steer to the required angle. This process can be further eased out with the use of oarlocks. Having to hold an oar while moving side to side takes more effort. With the use of oarlocks that amount of effort can rather used to push the boat faster.
