Umi..i got this configuration after many trial and error methods...at first i tried with a square tube from an umbrella..and in to 10 inches long..it worked well but with a very slow speed..then tried with round rods but fixed two pieces of foam board near to the fulcrums, along with two other pieces of foam board as a stopping mechanism..still it worked but ith a slow speed, and yes i was checking it with aluminium arms, on rowing mechanism...then i realized one thing..the reciprocating motion,of the oars giving me a lots of problem..instead of a directional motion it gave me a jerk like motion at first...so i added some weight to get some momentum...and tried with actual setup that you see in my photographs...but hands of the dolls is not strong enough to with stand the rowing torque..so i reached for the final setup, as you see here...you can see the oars are acting like oars, and also like a paddler wheel,in same instance...so it gave me even smoother ride, especially in reverse also..but still i am facing a little problem...as my first effort, i lost the aluminum bracket that fixed at the tips of the hands on port side..so i re fixed it with a new one...because of that the rowing angle is slightly altered in port side...so my craft is tend to roll towards port side a lots...even with rudder at full angle..so i will rectify it by today...and i will make even better rowing mechanism, more simply, and effectively,and the craft ill be the POPEEYE...hi..hi..so now i am searching for a doll of the legendary Popeeye...the sailor man..kooo..kooo...hi..hi...