Preview: Workboat Beginnings, Part 3 – Whitehall Boats
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August 23, 2013
Email this Video to a FriendWhitehall boats evolved along lower Manhattan’s rough-and-tumble waterfront in the 19th Century. When a ship made port, Whitehalls capable of ferrying a half dozen or more seaman hungry for the fleshpots of the city, rushed forth to earn business. From these pragmatic beginnings a speedy, seaworthy, and beautiful style of rowing boat was born.
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16 Responses So Far to “Workboat Beginnings, Part 3 – Whitehall Boats”
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Gilberto Frola says:
A very nice video Guys ,
and a very nice boats
Randal Griepp says:
Interesting fact: Cornelius Vanderbilt, the self made shipping and railroad tycoon, and possibly the richest man in 19th century America began his commercial career rowing a Whitehall in New York Harbor.
martin schulman says:
What a wonderful video. Some years ago I took a lofting course at the WBS with Greg Rossel. The plan we used was for a Whitehall. In addition to the lofting everyone build a half model off the plan. It was wonderful to see a full Whitehall with lots of lovely detail. The short video shows many construction details that would enhance any boat they were used on. Thanks again.
victor contento says:
Wow, what a perfect synthesis of purpose, function and engineering is shown here!
I have been designing and building White hulls for a while now and still learned quite a few things from this video.
Many times in boat design it seems that the art of creation could be reduced to dig back in time for a forgotten idea.
Excellent!
edward demarco says:
I am from Malta..here we have a design that is very similar to the whitehall called fregatina ..very popular with inland fishing
Steve Stone says:
Hi Edward. If you have a good photo of one, please send it along to us at support at offcenterharbor dot com.
Lee Fox says:
Great video about the Whitehall. Thanks!
Chris Cournoyer says:
Thank you for preserving a beautiful form of history so concisely and with such captivating detail. I am glad to know there are still those that really know these things and most grateful for your admirable efforts in preserving the knowledge by your videography. It is a privilege to be a lifetime member, I anxiously anticipate and await each new video presentation. See you in Port Townsend, WA next week.
Andy Reeve says:
Can anyone tell me what the boat is just forward of the Captain Hook in the video. She is a lapstrake outboard boat, looks like the name on the transom is Gideon Mancus but I cant make it out. Would love to get the plans to build this small outboard powered boat.
Andrew Alexander says:
great briefing on the Whitehall!
Would love to find a shirt like Ben Fuller is wearing – looks very comfortable in the mist
Charles Coull says:
A few years too late but I’m new here. It’s a smock. The version I use is here:
https://arthurbeale.co.uk/acatalog/Arthur-Beale-Sailors.Smock.html#SID=1863
His is the more traditional and they can be found here:
https://thesmockshop.com/crew-neck/
Don’t know where you’d find them your side of the water.
David Jeffery says:
Were the smaller recreational Whitehalls straight-line rowers? Were those commonly built to rig as sailboats?
elliott marks says:
Very enjoyable clip.
What is the interior finish of the first whitehall featured?
I think that besides being ‘nice’ the bead at the lower edge of the inside upper plank was to add a shadow line and create the illusion of an inner gunwale?
Frank Coletta says:
I really like the videos on the different types of boats. I learn a lot from them.
Steve S - RestHarrow Boatworks says:
Nicely done. Thanks for the great video!
William McIntyre says:
Veery good