According to Randall Spackman, the book of Ether contains only four brief references to the technology used by the Jaredites for the propulsion and control of their barges. First, the complaint of the brother of Jared, "O Lord, . . . whither shall we steer?" (Ether 2:19) indicates that the vessels had some method of steering which was interfered with by the enclosed deck house. Second, after the vessels were loaded, the Jaredites are said to have "set forth into the sea" (Ether 6:4). Presumably, they did not attempt to drift away from the seashore, but used some means of propulsion. Third, the record states that "they were driven forth before the wind" (Ether 6:8) implying that some form of sail may have been used when weather conditions permitted it. Finally, the Book of Ether says that "they did land upon the shore of the promised land" (Ether 6:12). This is not very helpful, but it does not say their barges were "wrecked" upon the shore. It would seem, therefore, that they used some method to control their landing, probably similar to what they used to "steer" and to "set forth" in the beginning. Hence, it would not be contrary to the record to assume that the barges had one or more forms of propulsion and control.
Mesopotamian carved seal stones from the 4th millennium B.C. show reed craft with a man "at the stern, either paddling or steering, while another man stands in the bow holding a forked stick for punting or sounding the river bed." In Mesopotamia several hundred years before the time of Jared, the single steering oar attached to the stern of the vessel (see illustration) was common. . . . Because of the size of the barges and their use at sea, long oars manned by a standing oarsman must have been considered a key element in the propulsion and control system for each barge. There may have been some type of steering oar which could be manned during good weather, but which was impossible to use from within an enclosed deck house. [Randall P. Spackman, The Jaredite Journey to America, pp. 86-89, unpublished]
Ether 2:19 Wither shall we steer? ([Illustration]): Egyptian steering oar attached to the vessel's stern] [Randall P. Spackman, The Jaredite Journey to America, p. 90, unpublished]