RE: Looking for ships with oars
Not many galley type vessels had their oarsmen out of sight - at least some were on the deck, think of the top layer on a bireme or trireme. There is always one of the Venetian barges "Bucentaur" if I spelt it right, which had the oarsmen below, and the decks clear for the important people to look good and feel important on. Might be a problem keeping it the right end up, but its a challenge, yes?