Going back in time

[1960 yellowboat]

Back when I was in my teens and cars had fins, there were advertisements in Outdoor Life about a trolling fin that you clamped to the transom of a small boat.
It was shaped like the fin of a fish and you moved it back and forth to propel your boat.
Anybody have or remember there things?

 

[LDUBS]

Here is one. I'm sure it works great. :shock:

 

[DaleH]

Yeah, I remember those. The technique is called ‘sculling’ and one can mount a single oar lock at the 1/3rd of the stern and do the same thing.

 

[Kismet]

And then there is the GONDOLA fleet in Venice, Italy...seems to work for them, but I've never seen the bottom of the hulls, nor if they have a keel or a rudder.

I'd imagine a spare oarlock at the transom would make the whole venture a lot easier.

Maybe some flats fishermen have rigged something like this up.