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Drift Boat and Pontoon Boat Rowing Classes
Seattle , Washington & Eugene, Oregon




"You make it look so easy. How hard can it be?" If we had a nickel for every time we heard that. It is easy but without proper training, it can be dangerous and difficult to master.

One thing boat manufacturers usually don't tell you when buying a boat, is how to row it! Over the years, we have rescued people from situations where had they known how to row in the first place, they wouldn't have found themselves in that predicament. Usually it was the lack of understanding of water and how much power it has that lands them there. Here is what we cover in our class:

--Various rowing seat configurations, how they can affect your ability to safely handle a boat

--Rowers personal fit to the boat with regards to rowing efficiency, regarding fore and aft placement of oars/seat, oar/seat heighth, distance from foot brace, length of oars

--Safety gear
for the boat itself, the rower and anglers/passengers, rescue ropes, throw bags, life jackets, cam straps/webbing, spare oars, first aid kits

--Legitimate upgrades in equipment for the boat, oars, anchors, bottom coatings, other manufacturer options

--Boat construction, how it affects your rowing both positively and negatively; weight, width, length, height, chines vs no chines, bottom coatings, anchor set-ups, bottom rocker, seat placement, hull material, gunnel shape/strength

--Boat construction, how to maximize space and comfort but not compromise future uses, width differences and how they affect performance of the boat, seat types/sizes

--Trailer set up, what to look for when buying a trailer, because there are options out there

--Reading water for maximum efficiency while rowing, including depth, speed, direction


--Anticipatory vs reactionary rowing and why the first is where you want to be, for fishing and safety


Our most important concern is your safety while on the water. Learning to row a boat rowing classboat well will enable you to row with more confidence and open up new rivers for you to fish.

One of the biggest parts of the class is learning how to read water. By reading water, you can tell depth, speed, current direction and hydraulic force, all of which play a huge role in how well you will row.

Hand in hand with learning to read the water is also learning what your boat will do in or on the water when you supply power from the oars. Little tricks of using the rocker of the boat, certain water currents and a stroke of an oar can make your job a lot easier.

For those who already know how to row but want to become better at rowing for fly fishing, this is a perfect class for you. We work on holding on seams, entering large eddies to fish them without spooking fish, crab or sideways rowing and other little things to make the anglers in your boat a little happier.

5 most popular reasons for taking a boat rowing class:

1 - Just bought a new boat
2 - Friend has a boat and you don't know how to row
3 - Learn to row for fly fishing
4 - Learn to read water for rowing safely
5 - Row more technical water to navigate more difficult rivers

Dave McCoy, the Washington instructor is Swift Water Rescue trained 5 times, and has been guiding driftboats, rafts and pontoon boats through class 4 water in several western states, including Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah for the past 15 years.


Mike McCoy, the Oregon instructor has been rowing drift boats on the lower Rogue, upper McKenzie, Umpqua and other class 4 waters of Oregon and Washington for the past 40 years.

Clothing and equipment checklist -- Summer, Winter


Pricing:
$200.00 Full Day Rowing Class for Drift and Pontoon Boats
Includes: Transportation from Seattle/Eugene, lunch and beverages.
  We prefer to work with you in your boat, however, a boat can be provided with advance notice.
   



Contact Info
info@emeraldwateranglers.com
206-545-2197 office
206-601-0132 Dave's mobile
Seattle, Washington