small sailboat oars, sweeps or scull?

[JWalker]

Anyone have any experience with both? 

I'd like to add manual propulsion....

I have read that sweeps will go faster, but require more effort,

and a sculling oar will go slower with more torque and more maneuverability...but less effort so you can keep it up longer.

I'm thinking mainly for in/out of anchorages, and a backup in case the motor blows chunks.


Which would you add to your boat?

-j

[CharlieJ]

can't say, but-

Sweeps need more room outboard, so narrow channels cause trouble.

Sculling oar will not take the room out on the sides.

Seems to me it depends on where and what you want to do.

[rorik]

I had a 12' ex lifeboat oar as a sweep and sculled my engineless '59 Frisco Flyer. If there is more than a a 3 knot breeze or the tide is at more than a ge ;Dneral slack state, it won't be easy... but you'll be in the same company as Popeye.....  A single sweep didn't take up much room, the single oarlock on the transom was barely noticeable.