My new rowing boat- just built
After many years of rowing all over Europe in somebody else's boat- I decided to build my own- and explore the US a bit. Requirements were stable, easy rowing, light weight so one old fud could manage her, ability to be transported in a long bed pick up truck- and if possible- pretty. I looked at many different designs before deciding on a 14' Phoenix wherry kit boat. It met all my requirements and at about $1600- I don't think I could build it as cheap. Its stitch and glue okumee plywood and it weighs just 90 lbs. Has 3 watertight foam filled compartments, and a backwards reading compass in a small binacle in front of the rower- so he can read a correct heading while going backwards. This kit is really outstanding. For stitch and edge glue construction, the planks must be cut with a great deal of precision- certainly better than I can do by eye with a jig saw. These are very accurate. So, I don't want to take any heat because I started with a kit- not possible for me to duplicate this and have it come in at 90 lbs.
PS- Because I hatched up this idea while on a rowing trip down the Moselle river in Germany- I named her Loreli- and a very pretty boat she is.
Dale
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