I'm dreaming about building at least one more boat...a fixed-seat rowboat for a fairly open bay that can develop a lot of cross-chop from powerboat wakes and an up-to-5 mile wind fetch wave build-up. I regularly row a 14' x 4'-2" whitehall that handles this kind of chop very well--never have taken a drop on board over many years of rowing. Only problem: its just a bit too short and draggy (its hull is sailing rather than rowing optimized.) Plus its gotten quite heavy over the years. Thinking the way to go was super-light and fast, I built an Anapolis Wherry from CLC (about 18' x 42") and installed a sliding seat. Nearly twice as fast as the whitehall, but the unusually low freeboard makes you feel like you are sitting on the boat rather than in the boat. It does well in the chop, but the low, fine line bow makes me think it may not always do so well. I also found that sliding seat rowing becomes problematic in a lot of cross-chop, and the fact that I just like fixed seat rowing dynamics more than sliding, I'm looking for a good compromise.
So now I'm down to three or four boat types: The Hereshoff pulling boat (17 ft. by 42"); an Adirondack guide boat or a St. Lawrence skiff. Or maybe a rowing-optimized peapod (narrowed a bit with moderate deadrise. I'm not concerned too much with ultra-light weight (I want the boat to carry in the chop, not bounce around like a cork), but I don't want a heavy work boat type either. I do want a double ender at this point...easier to built and a bit more seaworthy (and easy to row push or pull for a complete upper body workout!) Anybody want to comment??
I am biased towardsthe ADK guideboat. Of course, I build them. You can't beat them in chop or glass. They glide very well, carry loads, you can row solo from midships or from the bow while your "sport" rides stern.
I've been leaning toward them as well...but I do wonder about the high bow(s) and lack of keel in a cross wind. I often row my whitewall in cross winds up to 10 knots or so with only a little bit of encouragement to keep it tracking true. Doesn't the Guideboat typically try to weathervane in even light winds, requiring quite a bit of corrective strokes?
