A Virtual Fleet of Rowboats

The allure of tiny, human-powered watercraft is about as old as homo sapiens. In a little boat, there’s not much separating the subject from the landscape, human from water; the vessel becomes an extension of oneself. This intimate connection can be calming, exhilarating, or terrifying, depending on conditions. The rowboat seems to be a curious specimen of a small boat, given that you face astern, but its appeal is enduring. Rowboats are depicted in prehistoric art dating back over 6000 years, and the invention of the oar predates that of the wheel.

What’s the appeal for boatniks past and present? It’s easy to rattle off reasons. They’re small, affordable, and can fit inside sheds and garages. One person can launch a rowboat off a beach, and handle it easily alone—no wind or gas required. They can be trailered or otherwise hauled over the road. They’re interesting to study because there’s such variety in shape and structure among them; their original and current purposes, along with local conditions, greatly influence design. Their construction is easily examined because nothing is hidden in a small, open boat. For the DIY builder, the rowboat is a manageable project, a good outlet for perfectionism. Shaping components for good looks is as important as the overall shape of the hull. Options for materials, approach, and technique date back thousands of years, from bronze rivets and hand-shaped cedar boards to plywood and glue. Whether building or admiring a rowboat, it’s easy to appreciate the blend of creative and technical, form and function.

Function, of course, is what it all comes down to: leaning back on the oars, hearing the music of the water over the hull, looking out at the wake spreading under the sky. Flexibly designed rowboats can have wings to boot; hoist the sail and take a rest.

Maynard’s depiction of rowboats started with his earliest photography. We hope this selection inspires you to get out on the water and pull on some oars yourself this summer.

The 11'6" L. Francis Herreshoff-designed sailing pram JUBILEE that I built for Dan Gregory shown under construction with the bottom planking complete and the side planking yet to be installed.

JUBILEE, a cedar-and-oak sailing pram that L. Francis Herreshoff drew for his seagoing, three-masted schooner Marco Polo design, shown here turned rightside up and ready for completion. She'll carry a four-sided lugsail and leeboards instead of a centerboard.

A lovely Whitehall rowboat that was rescued by the late Bob Baker, who is shown at the left emerging from his shop. Whitehalls are among the most elegant of all rowing craft; they originated on the Manhattan waterfront during the late 1800s.

A very small square-ended punt intended for calm waters of the Piscataqua River off the late Bud McIntosh's Dover Point home, with Bud and Jon Wilson aboard.

Leon Miller and Anne Bray try out the first Yankee Tender—a collaborative design built by Brooklin Boat Yard for WoodenBoat and featured as one of the magazine's "How-to-Build" articles.

A Jim Steele peapod with Anne Bray at the oars and son Nat guiding her to a soft beach landing. The yawl AIDA and cruise schooner TIMBERWIND show in the background.

A Joel White-designed, plywood-planked Martha's Tender being built at Brooklin Boat Yard by Belford Gray and Sonny Williams. Anne Bray photographed the building process for a WoodenBoat "How-to-Build" series of articles.

The BBY-built, WoodenBoat-owned Martha's Tender being tried by local kids. Left to right are Seth Wilson, Emily Blair, Sarah Bray, and Christian Wilson.

Joel White fitting an outer stem on the 16' double-ended rowboat he designed and built of lapstrake plywood, using the Norwegian Hardanger faering for inspiration. He named the design Shearwater.

Designer/builder Joel White fits a guardrail to the first Shearwater that he built at Brooklin Boat Yard on speculation of glued-lap plywood over laminated frames of Douglas-fir.

Jon Wilson and Joel White test the first of the Shearwaters while Woody the dog looks on. Later, Joel designed a small sailing rig for this sleek double ender.

Steve and Laurie White zipping along in a Jim Steele peapod, rigged to sail—without centerboard or rudder. Steering is accomplished by the crew shifting their weight forward or aft.

Joel White compares his Shearwater's sailing rig with that of Bill and Caroline Mayher's lapstrake sailing peapod in Brooklin's Center Harbor. Onlookers aboard JARGES PRIDE and FREE SPIRIT observe from the background.

Rowing an iconic Jim Steele peapod double-banked, or with two pair of oars.

Local kids get their chosen rowboats off the beach to a speedy start during one of the 4th of July races held at the Center Harbor waterfront in Brooklin.

In Andros in the Bahamas, poles instead of oars are often used to propel small boats like this.

Small boats of Andros in the Bahamas are heavy and crude compared to those in the US. They're used for commercial fishing and live a much rougher life—but are attractive, nevertheless.

Giffy Full speeds by in his peapod, this one built by Capt. Havilah Hawkins, who originated the design and was their first builder. He later transferred the business to Jim Steele, who carried on and built more than 150 of these lovely cedar-and-oak double-enders.