Preview: A Beautiful Morning in The Drake Rowing Boat

*     *     *
OffCenterHarbor.com is a membership website with over 1,000 videos and articles on boat handling, repairs, maintenance, boat building, dream boats and more.

Sign up above to learn more, and get 10 of our best videos.

*     *     *

The Drake Rowboat is a boat we believe in. She’s a good boat to build, and row, and you can take her just about anywhere on adventures. Here we join a friend for a morning row on the coast of Maine. She bought the kit from Chase Small Craft (link below in Nav further) and then she had Eric Dow Boat Shop (link below) build it. Jump aboard, let’s follow here on an early row in the calm fog of a Maine morning.

Get Free Videos Start Free Trial Members Sign In

Comments, Thoughts or Suggestions?

You can leave a comment or question for OCH and members below. Here are the comments so far…

Leave a Comment

15 Responses So Far to “A Beautiful Morning in The Drake Rowing Boat

  • Avatar

    David Rawls says:

    P.S. Come to the Lake Tahoe wooden boat show next year!! Fabulous!

    • Avatar

      Clint Chase says:

      Wish I could do all these great shows…but this one you mention will go on my list.

  • Avatar

    David Rawls says:

    Loved Julian K’s idea of using a bike mirror even more than the wide angle auto rear view. I’m thinking if you didn’t want to turn your head, why not two? The viewers are as much fun for me as the videos! Love both and enjoy your work immensely!! Come to the Lake Tahoe wooden boat show next year!! Fabulous!

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      Tempting David. Probably lots of good videos to film there. Hard to leave Maine in August. I joke that we have a 3-day summer season here. Sometimes I exaggerate and say it’s 3 weeks. But Lake Tahoe. Hmmmm…. a place to stay near the festival and close ties with insiders who know the boats/people/stories well would tempt further.

  • Avatar

    Richard Crockett says:

    What a beautiful video about a lovely boat and a relationship with Dorothea.

    Oh, I so longed to be on those quiet waters too.

  • Avatar

    Sam Benson says:

    Beautiful little boat and what a place to enjoy it! I have to wonder though, where did all the beetle cat booms go?!?

  • Avatar

    gale ebert says:

    Think this is the most beautiful OCH video. Thanks!

  • Avatar

    Robert Hazard says:

    The Drake is indeed a lovely boat, easy to launch and a delight to row!
    This summer I took mine out about three mornings per week, mostly on the upper reaches of Casco Bay.
    Following Ben Fuller’s example, I rigged her with a removable sliding seat, then added a wide-angle rear view mirror from the auto parts store to the foot brace.
    I’m not sure the sliding seat makes her go a whole lot faster, but it’s more comfortable for me, gives my legs a workout, and allows me to cover more ground at an easy cadence.

  • Avatar

    Julian Kuffler says:

    Thanks for the lovely video. Starting the day with the an early morning row is one of the nicest way to begin the day. Wildlife is also getting underway both in, on and above the surface. If you like to build, being surrounded by a winters project adds to the pleasure.
    A while back I added a bicycle rear view mirror to the rim of my hat. It makes scanning ahead for obstacles so easy to do and doesn’t affect your stroke.

  • Avatar

    Ben Fuller says:

    Added a short removable slide to my partners Drake. She really likes it. Boat also runs well in a sea with a couple of rowers. Trails easily with one of the light aluminum trailers.

  • Avatar

    John Wujack says:

    and during the fair-weather months, three hours later, when the sun reaches Liberty Bay, WA, I share a very similar outing in my Whitehall Wherry. Rowing in a light fog is magical and completely changes the setting, sometimes instantly. It is always great fun to see what lovely boats are visiting the harbor, like visiting an art gallery. After 40 years of paddling kayaks, I needed a boat that I could fall into and not, out of in case of an emergency. Traditional rowboats are that next boat. Thanks for sharing your beautiful setting and video. As the indoor rowing season approaches, it’s remembered images like these that inspire me to get on the indoor rower, stay “nimble”, and prepare for Spring. Warm regards from Poulsbo, WA.

    • Avatar

      John Bukowsky says:

      I am sure I’ve seen you in that Whitehall on Liberty Bay while walking down PYC’s dock.

GET THIS FULL VIDEO!

Get Immediate Access, Plus
10 More of Our Best Videos

Your email is safe with us.
We'll NEVER share it, and we DON'T spam.

or …


Start Free Trial

Get Instant Access as a Member to the Entire Site

  • Access all 1000 videos/articles
  • No risk! Cancel anytime
  • Get a nice discount if you join