Bow facing rowing apparatus

A rowing apparatus adapted for use by an oarsman to propel a watercraft, having a forward to rearward longitudinal axis, in a direction which corresponds to a direction in which the oarsman faces, the rowing apparatus comprising:

• a. a handle poriton having a first lengthwise axis;
• b. a blade portion having a second lengthwise axis;
• c. transmission means, adapted to be attached to said watercraft, for (i) coupling said handle portion to said blade portion in a manner that movement of said handle portion in a first longitudinal direction which is generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said watercraft causes a corresponding movement of the blade portion in the first longitudinal direction, and movement of the handle portion in a second longitudinal direction which is generally opposite to said first longitudinal direction causes a corresponding movement of the blade portion in the second longitudinal direction, and (ii) for coupling said handle portion to said blade portion so that rotation of said handle portion about said first lengthwise axis causes a corresponding rotation of the blade portion about said second lengthwise axis, said transmission means including
• (1) a housing which is adapted to be connected to said watercraft, said housing including (i) an upper member, (ii) a lower member, (iii) upstanding support means which are connected between said upper and lower members, and (iv) an intermediate mounting member which is located between said upper member and said lower member and which is connected to said upstanding support means,
• (2) a first actuating member which is connected to the handle portion and which is pivotable about a first upright pivot axis during movement of the handle portion in the first and second longitudinal directions, said first actuating member mounted to said housing for pivotal movement about said first upright pivot axis,
• (3) a second actuating member which is connected to the blade portion and which is pivotal about a second upright pivot axis which is generally parallel to the first upright pivot axis, said second actuating member being mounted to said housing for pivotal movement about said second upright pivot axis,
• (4) first means for coupling said first actuating member to said second actuating member so that pivoting of said first actuating member about said first upright pivot axis in a first pivot direction causes pivoting of said second actuating member about said second upright pivot axis in a second pivot direction which is opposite to said first pivot direction,
• (5) second coupling means including (i) handle shaft means joined to said handle portion and rotatably engaged within said first actuating member, (ii) blade shaft means joined to said blade portion and rotatably engaged within said second actuating member, and (iii) third intermediate shaft means engaged between said handle shaft means and said blade shaft means in a manner that rotation of said handle shaft means about said first lengthwise axis is transmitted via said intermediate shaft means to cause a rotation of said blade shaft means which corresponds to said rotation of said handle shaft means, said intermedate shaft means supported within said intermediate mounting member at a location between siad first actuating member and said second actuating member.