Question regarding Ocean Rowing Boats...

Is it possible to get an ocean rowing boat built to the basic stage of construction and before anything at all is added? Does anyone have any idea how much it might cost? I want to just get the basic boat form and be able to save up and build each additional stage at my pace.

Why didn't I think of doing this sooner?????

Any advice would be great!

:idea:

 

Of course you can, and prices will vary all over the place. The plywood Rowsell-Morrison design that used to be available (perhaps still is) was fairly affordable as a kit, a few thousand dollars if memory serves. That's about the only standard ocean rowing design that I know of. Others reading this may know of other links to some stock designs. You can buy the kit, and either build it yourself or have someone else build it for you. You will pay whatever the going rates are, and a good custom boat builder could give you a quote. You should be able to specify whatever stage of construction that you want, and they should quote accordingly. If you find a suitable design, get a couple of quotes from a few different boatbuilders and compare prices and services to suit your budget and needs.

When I worked with Tori Murden on her record-setting Transatlantic row in 1999, we (I and a builder) discussed with her the possibility of designing and building a custom carbon fiber ocean rowing boat which likely would have cost over a quarter of a million dollars at the time. She had some money in a budget, but not that much. In the end, she chose to retrieve her Rowsell-Morrison boat from French Customs, have it shipped back to Louisville, KY, and I helped her redesign and rebuild the boat to suit her tall frame and next rowing effort, which she successfully completed, becoming the first American and first woman to row solo across the Atlantic. You can see the story on my website here: http://sponbergyachtdesign.com/Americanpearl.htm. You can also Google Tori's name and you'll come up with any number of links to her effort, biography, and her book, A Pearl in the Storm.

If you want just a simple boat for ocean rowing for yourself, you can probably buy a used one that has already been built and competed. If you want to compete in offshore rows, then low boat weight is all to your advantage. You want the lightest boat possible. But you also want a boat that will stay upright most of the time, and that means you have to have a proper hull shape and very low center of gravity. Look at the Ocean Rowing Society website--there are boats for sale listed there: http://www.oceanrowing.com/.

When I read about Gerard d'Aboville's Pacific west-to-east crossing, it appeared to me that he spent more time upside down than right side up. In my opinion, this was because his boat, although very light, was also very shallow and it could be flipped over very easily. Gerard was an important mentor to Tori, by the way.

Good luck on your search; I am sure you will gather a wealth of information.

Eric

 

Check these guys out. They have used boats for sale, which may cost the same as a new hull and deck.
http://www.woodvale-challenge.com/

 

Thanks Gonzo...

I already know of the company Woodvale and have not been treated so well in the past by them...I kinda feel like they have better things to do and I always got that impression and I decided not to go with them. I have spent a few years researching and 2012 is the year to finally be able to turn my life around...it is so important!

 

Where in the USA are you located?

 

Great write-up on that ocean canoe Eric. The persistence of some of these ocean voyagers amazes me. Great job on that boat.

 

Thanks, glad you like it.

Eric

 

Okay...how much does Woodvale Challenge charge?

Okay so I looked on Woodvale's rather impressive website and found the Solo design that I really love but thought they were only dealing with plywood? Can anyone tell me the cost of one of these boats in carbon/kevlar and if they offer payment plans?

 

I know those guys. I worked at the shop next to them for quite a while. If you are interested, I can get you in contact with boatbuilder friends of mine at the same yard that can check out the used boats. If you want a NA to check it, Ed Burnett is across the river.

 

Oarswoman1; This is fascinating stuff, ocean rowing. Pursuits of that sort are either evidence of lunacy or a testament to the courage and determination of the human spirit. I prefer the latter and wish you well in your quest.

 

I've always wondered how they get food n' water on a trip like that?
Medical problems, like Blisters...
Your definitely tougher than I am!
I hope you get your boat and give it a try going up the Pacific Coast.

 

Hello Oarswoman1

We build ocean rowing boats in Christchurch (UK) and I'd be happy to help answer any questions you may have.
Take a look at our Facebook page: Rossiter Rowing Boats to see some of the boats we have built and worked on.

All the best

 

Hi,
unfortunately the website
http://www.woodvale-challenge.com/

is not working.
Does anyone know where else is possible to purchare ocean rowing solo boat design?

Kind regards and thank you

 

Hi Gnioco, Welcome to the forum. Chances are you are not going to find any stock designs for ocean rowing boats. You can find links to boats for sale, as located earlier in this thread, at the Ocean Rowing Society in Santa Rosa, California: http://www.oceanrowing.com/. Also, as stated above, Rossiter Boats in the UK can build you a boat to any stage of completion from their Phil Morrison designs: http://www.rossiterboats.com/. Rossiter does not show any of their ocean rowing boats on their website, but ask them about their ocean rowing boats and they can give you more detailed information. Phil Morrison is still around, although he is now retired.

I have just received a new design commission for a Pacific row boat. My client wishes to row across the Pacific from Seattle, WA, to Northeast Australia, solo non-stop. No one has been able to row a North America-to-Australia route solo non-stop before, although a number have tried. This boat will be 28' long, displace 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. and be equipped for up to a year at sea. This is a custom design for a very particular expedition. I hope to have more information to post in the near future.

Eric

 

In the US (West Coast) Jim Franken and Kit Africa designed and built a boat called Reach for Mick Bird.

http://www.oceanrowing.com/Statistics/Boats/index.htm

http://www.goals.com/transrow/index.htm