Hi,

I have not rowed before but am very interesting in starting.

My first question is: What is it like rowing around Stat of Lib in NY Harbor?

2nd q: What is most suitable (& unsuitable) boat? My primary objectives would be exercise and pleasant diversion...

3rd q: What boats were used in this area: dories or guide boats, etc?

Thanks in advance,

Regards

Mike

-- Mike (katzmike@home.com), November 28, 2001

Answers

An addition to the above questions:

I am looking for a boat that is light enough to be carried by 1 (take out of the water and put on dock or into garage)

I would also like the option of having a passenger occasionally.

I think that I would like it available in kit format.

Can you get one that you can row facing forward rather than backwards? (not an essential but nice to know options)

Thanks again in advance,

Mike

-- Mike (katzmike@home.com), November 28, 2001.

Mike I would go with the dory and not just because I build them,they handle bumpy water very well ,they have flat bottoms,that makes it easy to get in and out of when pulled up on the beach .But you're asking a lot of one boat. Not to many boats can carry two people safely and still be car toped.My 20 footer is about 200 lbs and needs a trailor ,my son has a 16 footer it's about 65 lbs and some times he takes his girlfriend with him .This might fit you'r needs but I don't recomend two people in bumpy water good luck in you'r search phil

-- Phil Reinhardt (reinhardtp@hotmail.com), December 28, 2001.

Hi Mike; I row a Guideboat and cartop it everywhere. Very easy on and off the car. Once you get a system down it's very easy for one person. Living in Rockland co. New York I do most of my rowing on the Hudson. Like the area around West Point and Bear Mountain best but have rowed around New York harbor. Parked at Chelsea Pier and carried the boat with the yoke down the sidewalk till I found a good spot to put in. There have to be easier launch sites on the Jersey side. Rowing around Liberty and Ellis Islands was great. I had my wife with me and the boat took the wakes from the ferries and water taxies with ease. I'm sure there are a number of boats out there to fit the job. Hope you get one and start pulling. Would like to see more rowed boats on the Hudson.

-- Paul Neil (rowbooboo@aol.com), January 01, 2002.

I row an Adirondak Wherry on the Hudson near Stoney Pt. where I keep the boat dry docked at a marina. I row north to around the Bear Mt Bridge and back. I've seen my type of boat car topped but I opted not to since it would require 2 people to get it on a rack. The water on the Hudson is rather unpredictable; it goes from being calm as a lake to quite choppy when the tides come in or on a windy day.

Avi Katz

-- Avi Katz (avi@terraknits.com), February 14, 2002.

Hi Mike,

To get some experience both rowing and navigating NY Harbor you might try a few outings with Floating the Apple.

The four oar 25' Whitehall Gigs are bigger than you are looking for, but the cost is just showing up and learning.

Look up the web sites, or show up Tuesday afternoons at about 6:00 on the south side of Pier 40 to row.

Don Betts

-- Don Betts (hecticbunny@hotmail.com), April 19, 2002.