Comments for Frontrower Newsletter http://frontrower.com/blog Ron Rantilla's blog mostly about row boats. Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:49:05 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on New Rowboat in the Warren rowing community. by Christopher Laughton http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89&cpage=1#comment-384 Christopher Laughton Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:49:05 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89#comment-384 Very interested to read your info about Cornish Pilot Gigs - you might like to have a look at their extraordinary history here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_pilot_gig I live in Penzance in Cornwall and gig rowing has become very popular in Cornwall, and beyond, during the last 20 years since it was revived. All the boats used in competition are based precisely on the Newquay boat 'Treffry' which was built in 1838 and is still being rowed! Here are 2 more related interesting links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjkXbqCh_M&feature=related and http://www.cpga.co.uk/index.htm I visited my brother in Hull Mass last autumn and was fascinated to see several Cornish Gigs pulled up on the foreshore there - like the Cornish pasty, they seem to be everywhere! atb ... Chris Very interested to read your info about Cornish Pilot Gigs – you might like to have a look at their extraordinary history here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_pilot_gig

I live in Penzance in Cornwall and gig rowing has become very popular in Cornwall, and beyond, during the last 20 years since it was revived. All the boats used in competition are based precisely on the Newquay boat ‘Treffry’ which was built in 1838 and is still being rowed!

Here are 2 more related interesting links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjkXbqCh_M&feature=related and http://www.cpga.co.uk/index.htm

I visited my brother in Hull Mass last autumn and was fascinated to see several Cornish Gigs pulled up on the foreshore there – like the Cornish pasty, they seem to be everywhere!

atb … Chris

]]> Comment on Alaskan Natives Use FrontRower in Coming of Age Event by JD http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=153&cpage=1#comment-383 JD Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:46:17 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=153#comment-383 Heartwarming. Having worked with Native Americans, I've noticed all too often their efforts at preserving traditional way do not involve the rugged outdoor activities. Kudos. Heartwarming. Having worked with Native Americans, I’ve noticed all too often their efforts at preserving traditional way do not involve the rugged outdoor activities. Kudos.

]]> Comment on Recent Launching – Sweden by gail ferris http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=115&cpage=1#comment-369 gail ferris Sat, 22 May 2010 11:02:21 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=115#comment-369 Good idea that kayak for the frontrower. I only tried a frontrower in the klepper Aerius II folding kayak in it's original design specially modified to accommodate the height of the deck. It worked out quite well. Good idea that kayak for the frontrower. I only tried a frontrower in the klepper Aerius II folding kayak in it’s original design specially modified to accommodate the height of the deck. It worked out quite well.

]]> Comment on Roger Williams’ Row to Newport by Don Betts http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-342 Don Betts Sat, 01 May 2010 03:06:56 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=35#comment-342 Three texts about the debate were: "George Fox Digge'd out of his Burrowes" by Roger Williams "A New England firebrand Quenched" by a Quaker? George Fox? "The Arrogance of Self-Righteousness" by Roger Williams Three texts about the debate were:

“George Fox Digge’d out of his Burrowes” by Roger Williams

“A New England firebrand Quenched” by a Quaker? George Fox?

“The Arrogance of Self-Righteousness” by Roger Williams

]]> Comment on New Rowboat in the Warren rowing community. by Don Betts http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89&cpage=1#comment-341 Don Betts Sat, 01 May 2010 03:00:05 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89#comment-341 Bjorn, For some information about the whitehall gigs look up Floating the Apple and Village Community Boathouse Both come up with Google. and they both have pictures and videos of how the boats are built and used. The Whitehall Gigs were designed by Mike McEvoy in 1993 for Floating The Apple for building by community volunteer help for neighborhood boathouses. More than thirty of these boats have been built in and around New York City and just about every day from April through December they are being used in New York Harbor. The boats measure 25' on the waterline, or nearly 27' overall. They look like the woodcuts and paintings of the coxed four oared boats from about 1820 in New York Harbor. For the New York Canal system it is important that the 25' because of the canal fee structure. Whitehall boats traditionally ranged from about 14' to about 22' but for team rowing in New York Harbor we decided at the start of Floating the Apple that a longer boat for sweep rowing that accomodated four rowers and passengers and required a coxswain might be better in the busy harbor. Don Betts Hecticbunny@hotmail.com Bjorn,

For some information about the whitehall gigs look up
Floating the Apple
and
Village Community Boathouse

Both come up with Google. and they both have pictures and videos of how the boats are built and used.

The Whitehall Gigs were designed by Mike McEvoy in 1993 for Floating The Apple for building by community volunteer help for neighborhood boathouses.
More than thirty of these boats have been built in and around New York City and just about every day from April through December they are being used in New York Harbor.

The boats measure 25′ on the waterline, or nearly 27′ overall.
They look like the woodcuts and paintings of the coxed four oared boats from about 1820 in New York Harbor. For the New York Canal system it is important that the 25′ because of the canal fee structure.

Whitehall boats traditionally ranged from about 14′ to about 22′ but for team rowing in New York Harbor we decided at the start of Floating the Apple that a longer boat for sweep rowing that accomodated four rowers and passengers and required a coxswain might be better in the busy harbor.

Don Betts

Hecticbunny@hotmail.com

]]> Comment on New Rowboat in the Warren rowing community. by Don Betts http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89&cpage=1#comment-340 Don Betts Sat, 01 May 2010 02:55:36 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89#comment-340 And a little more about the racing gigs of New York harbor, the last existing one being the American Star kept at Laffeyettes ? estate in LaGrange ? France and a reproduction of it built by John Gardner at Mystic. The "General Laffeyette" at Mystic being tried by the designer and some of the rest of us building four oared whitehall boats to see how the type might be adapted for use for New York Harbors current conditions. Conditions meaning traffic wave and wake patterns and bulkheaded access and currents that can be a challenge to row against. Those two Coxed four whitehalls are 27'3" x 47" , and can be seen. The American Star by appointment on Saturdays in the spring in Groups of five about 30 miles east of Paris if the arrangements at the private estate are the same as twelve years ago, and the General Laffeyette seen at Mystic in the boat warehouse across the road and has been available to be used at the traditional small boat builders gatherings the first Saturday and Sunday in June. Plans are in John Gardner's book "Wooden Boats to build and Use" page 131 And a little more about the racing gigs of New York harbor, the last existing one being the American Star kept at Laffeyettes ? estate in LaGrange ? France and a reproduction of it built by John Gardner at Mystic. The “General Laffeyette” at Mystic being tried by the designer and some of the rest of us building four oared whitehall boats to see how the type might be adapted for use for New York Harbors current conditions. Conditions meaning traffic wave and wake patterns and bulkheaded access and currents that can be a challenge to row against.

Those two Coxed four whitehalls are 27′3″ x 47″ , and can be seen. The American Star by appointment on Saturdays in the spring in Groups of five about 30 miles east of Paris if the arrangements at the private estate are the same as twelve years ago, and the General Laffeyette seen at Mystic in the boat warehouse across the road and has been available to be used at the traditional small boat builders gatherings the first Saturday and Sunday in June.

Plans are in John Gardner’s book “Wooden Boats to build and Use” page 131

]]> Comment on New Rowboat in the Warren rowing community. by Bjorn N Thafvelin http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89&cpage=1#comment-339 Bjorn N Thafvelin Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:20:40 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=89#comment-339 Hello, Whitehalls, is there really an 27 ft? Does anyone have drawings? best regards BNT Hello,

Whitehalls, is there really an 27 ft? Does anyone have drawings?

best regards
BNT

]]> Comment on Chester Yawl for FrontRower? by John http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=42&cpage=1#comment-335 John Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:58:25 +0000 http://frontrower.com/blog/?p=42#comment-335 Mark, I use my FrontRower in a Little River Marine Heritage 15. My beam is 40" and I think my freeboard looks to be a little lower than a Chester Yawl. The Heritage 15 definitely has more of a curved sheer line than the Chester Yawl. The oars get extremely close but don't hit for my combo. The CLC guys show their boats in lots of locations on the East Coast and so does Ron. My suggestion would be to find out which show they're both going to and show up to try it out. If it doesn't fit or work properly I would HIGHLY recommend shopping for a different boat that allows you to use a FrontRower, they're great. There are plenty of wherry designs out there. If you have to build it yourself, Ron offers two boat kits or if you're really ambitious the Adirondack strip built boats are incredibly beautiful. Good luck, John in San Diego Mark,
I use my FrontRower in a Little River Marine Heritage 15. My beam is 40″ and I think my freeboard looks to be a little lower than a Chester Yawl. The Heritage 15 definitely has more of a curved sheer line than the Chester Yawl. The oars get extremely close but don’t hit for my combo. The CLC guys show their boats in lots of locations on the East Coast and so does Ron. My suggestion would be to find out which show they’re both going to and show up to try it out. If it doesn’t fit or work properly I would HIGHLY recommend shopping for a different boat that allows you to use a FrontRower, they’re great. There are plenty of wherry designs out there. If you have to build it yourself, Ron offers two boat kits or if you’re really ambitious the Adirondack strip built boats are incredibly beautiful.
Good luck,
John in San Diego

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