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A Beautiful Morning in The Drake Rowing Boat

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.

Visit Clint Chase's website to purchase kits or plans of the Drake Rowboat and to see his other boat designs.

Drake Rowboat 17
LOA 17' 4"
LWL 15' 3"
Beam 4' 1-3/4"
Draft 6"
Depth amidships 12 1/2"
Hull weight 110 lbs

Drake Raceboat
LOA 18' 3"
LWL 17'
Beam 48 1/2"
Depth 14"
Hull Weight 75 lbs

ADDITIONAL DRAKE DESIGN:

Drake Rowboat - 19
LOA 19' 2"
LWL 17' 3"
Beam 50-1/2"
Draft 7"
Depth amidships 16"
Hull weight 145 lbs

Eric Dow Boat Shop built this boat.

Traditional oars from Shaw and Tenney.

Comments, Thoughts or Suggestions?

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

  • Heather Linscott says:

    I come to Center Harbor every summer and dream all winter about being on my boat. I live in a beautiful spot in the mountains but there is nothing like those waters in Maine. You captured the boat and spirit well.

  • Tee Portas says:

    I miss rowing. I have a 17′ Herreshoff that needs some love right now. Perhaps this is the motivation I needed.
    Things are different on the northern Gulf coast, hot, humid, but only one tide per day less than 2 feet average, and no rocks!

  • David Rawls says:

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

    • Clint Chase says:

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?!?

  • gale ebert says:

    Think this is the most beautiful OCH video. Thanks!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    • John Bukowsky says:

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