Still Boat Building

Our touring rowboat, almost completed.

During my years offshore sailing I met many sailors who had built their own boats. Invariably the process had gone massively over budget, and the time spent building was at least twice what was anticipated.

As we’ve spent the last few months building our rowboats, I can’t help but think back to these tales of arduous boat building, usually regaled over bottles of rum in remote South Pacific Islands, and thank providence we’re not building a 50 foot sailing yacht. Our rowboats are almost completed, having taken twice the time we estimated to construct. At least, being small boats, going over budget hasn’t been such a big deal…

The big rush has been to complete the boats in time for our August honeymoon. We have planned a journey that will incorporate the new boats and to avoid having our honeymoon at the Holiday Inn in Parksville, we have been working hard to get the rowboats completed. They are almost done, and the final job is to install the sliding rowing seats and riggers. There won’t be time to paint the boats before departure so they will look rather like floating coffee tables, with the natural grain of the wood showing through the fibreglass.

We have received queries about our upcoming expedition from Scotland to Syria. At this point, with building the rowboats and planning the wedding, we haven’t yet had a chance to develop the web page detailing the journey. By late October we hope to have comprehensive information online including maps, itinerary, and boat details. Additionally we will be developing a school program. For educators who would like to get involved in this project, please feel free to contact us.

We have had fun writing up this month’s featured adventurer. I had the pleasure of meeting Derek Hatfield, one of Canada’s top sailors at CH television in Hamilton several months ago. Derek is planning a journey that makes our row across the Atlantic Ocean seem a stroll in Stanley Park. Details of his endeavor are posted below. This month’s adventure tip is about recreational rowing and touring.

We hope you all have a great August. Our next update will be from Mr. and Mrs. Angus.

Colin Angus

Our newest addition to The Adventurer's Handbook - a free online resource for adventurers
Touring Rowboats

Touring Rowing (courtesy of www.cscboats.com)

The first human-powered craft undoubtedly would have been propelled by sticks, followed shortly after by the single-bladed paddle. Eventually the double-bladed paddle, such as those used in kayaks, would be developed. Due to the technical complexity of rowing, it can be assumed this form of propulsion would have arisen a long time after the paddle.

The major advantage of rowing is that it allows usage of the larger muscles in our body (back, and, with sliding seat, legs). An individual can generate more driving force with a set of oars than with paddles. This is advantageous when large loads are being transported through the water, the boat is of greater size, or maximum speed is required.

Read more in our Adventurer's Handbook.

Our August Explorer in Featured Expeditions
Derek Hatfield - The World's Most Grueling Race

Derek Hatfield will compete in the 2008 Vendée Globe and, if successful, will be the first Canadian to complete the race. (Courtesy of www.spiritofcanada.net)

The Vendée Globe, around-the-world sailing race, is dubbed the world’s most gruelling challenge. Beginning and ending at the port of Les Sables d’Olonne, France, the course heads south into the infamous Southern Ocean where temperatures are freezing and hurricane-force winds frequent. The boats are singlehanded and stopovers or outside assistance is not allowed.

The race generally takes 3-4 months as the sleek performance boats move at speeds often exceeding 20 knots.

Read more about this adventure and our other Featured Expeditions.

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