History of Rowing Boats

Rowing boats might seem like a leisure or sports activity in today's mechanised and technologically advanced world but it was a very important factor in the development of ships. We know that the first 'boats' were simply tree trunks that had been 'dug out' and were propelled by a version of a paddle but the true rowing boat goes way back in time. Some of the indigenous peoples of less developed areas of the world, even today, still set out to sea on long voyages in boats that defy the imagination and have, as their motive power, sets of rowers. One of the more iconic images of an old rowing boat is that of the Viking Longships (or longboat) which used sails and windpower but also had ranks of rowers on each side of the boat. The Vikings crossed vast expanses of open water into uncharted territories in these open boats. The bigger, wider ships that used oars were commonly known as Galleys and can be found in use from earliest times, around 3000 years ago, until the late 16th century, and most frequently around the Mediterranean and Aegean waters. Some were of shallow draught, much wider than Viking boats, with no upper deck and were used for trade or battle. These ships were more usually rowed by slaves who would be shackled to their seats. Others were larger and with an upper deck. The slaves would be positioned below this deck and the oars would protrude just above the waterline. These larger ships would have sail as alternative or supplementary motive power. Galley dominated ancient and mediaeval warfare and were present in the conflicts of Persia, Greece, Carthage, the Roman Empire, the Italian City States and the Byzantine Empire. They were in the forefront until ships were developed that could deliver a broadside of cannon power and, against this devastating attack, the Galley had no answer. An advantage that Galleys had over pure sail was that they were infinitely more manoeuvrable and could enter much shallower waters for example estuaries and rivers.

We don't tend to think of the Venetian Gondola as a rowing boat but, in theory, it does qualify. The Gondolas on Venetian waterways, or canals, are an essential feature of any holiday to Venice. What a way to spend an hour or two ......... lounging back on cushions as the gondola glides through the water propelled by the actions of the gondolier. There are different ways of propelling a gondola and they can employ either one or two oars or two or more oarsmen. If there is one oarsman with one oar he will stand at the rear of his boat facing the direction of travel and will also use the oar as a rudder with which to steer his gondola. One oarsman may use two crossed oars, also facing the direction of travel, or two oarsmen on opposite sides of the gondola.