Patent ID: 6939186
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A leg-assisted forward rowing system, comprising: a vessel to be propelled by a rower, said vessel having forward and rearward ends and a seat for a forward-facing rower between said ends; an oar having an inner portion and having an outer blade portion rotatably mounted on the inner portion, the outer blade portion being controllably rotatable by the rower with respect to the inner portion to feather and square the blade portion of the oar; a pivot mount on said vessel, the innermost end of said oar being pivotally mounted on said pivot mount so that the oar is movable by the rower for rearward motion toward said rearward end of said vessel in a power stroke to propel the vessel forwardly in the direction in which the rower faces when seated, and is movable by the rower for forward motion toward said forward end of the vessel in a return stroke; a movable shoe positioned for linear reciprocal motion by a rower's foot along said vessel; and a connector extending between said movable shoe and said oar, whereby pivotal motion of said oars rearwardly in said power stroke is carried out by rearward motion of the rower's arms assisted by synchronous forward motion of said movable shoe by the rower.