S. Worthen | Weblog

In England, the punt was developed as a hunting boat. To propel it, you stand at the back stern end*, drop a very long pole into the water, and push off on the bottom. It's done standing up.

In the Venetian lagoon, the sandolo s'ciopón (a kind of sandolo) was developed as a hunting boat. The boat is rowed with a pair of long oars. It's done standing up.

What is it about hunting boats which means that standing up to propel it has an advantage over sitting down?

* Which end consitutes the back stern varies depending on whether you're of the Cambridge or Oxford persuasion.