WTB: Coastal rowing boat

[roy649]

I'm looking to buy a coastal rowing boat. I'm a big guy so getting me into a typical 1x shell isn't going to work. I'll be rowing on Long Island Sound, so I'm looking for something more stable than a shell. The Lite Boat LiteSport 1X looks like it's just what I need, but I haven't been able to find one to look at.

Does anybody in the New York City area have one that they'd be willing to let me take a look at, and maybe even take it out for a test row?

[PaulG]

Roy: Before you commit to a Liteboat consider the 61 lb weight. That is going to be difficult to move around the boathouse or car top by yourself. I don't know how big you are but you might be able to fit into an Echo which is a very stable open water boat. I'm also a fan of the Peinert Zephyr and Maas Aero. All three of these boats might be easier to find used in the US but be prepared to buy one when you see it. They don't last long.
Paul

[frankieboy]

When you say big guy, how big.
The liteboat design is fairly weak on the top deck and flexes badly with folks more than 200lbs in them and I would be concerned long term. The Maas Aero is a wonderful boat but might be a bit small.
The other options are a wherry type thing with sliding seat or the FISA coastal style boats. The FISA coastal style boats are heavy (75 to 80 lbs) but they are designed for open water and are fun to row. There are several makes, Eurodiffusion, LEO are 2. Popular with some clubs in Canada.

Lastly absolutely avoid the SUP paddle board with a rowing unit strapped to it like an oarboard , surfscull or similar, horrible, like towing a bucket behind IMO

[floatingbones]

Lastly absolutely avoid the SUP paddle board with a rowing unit strapped to it like an oarboard , surfscull or similar, horrible, like towing a bucket behind IMO

Typically, the OarBoard rig is secured with a pair of straps around the [third-party] SUP. Those straps on the underwater side would clearly create drag and disrupt smooth flow. OTOH, OarBoard's own SUP is manufactured with attachment-points to secure the rig with no straps underneath the SUP. Did you try it with their SUP?

This product would clearly be slower than any rigid shell. However, it's far easier to transport than a rigid boat. I've never gotten a chance to try, but I find myself hoping the product works reasonably well.

[jamesg]

Presumably you already have somewhere to put the boat and sculls and have learnt to row. In any case the best place to go to see what exists is a boat club. There you could maybe crew too, with a cox, much safer in open water. This is what G tells us about NY rowing:
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... owing+club


Filippi has a coastal hull type F80 for up to 100 kg. Length 5.85m = 230 inches, 19 ft.
http://www.filippiireland.com/boat/f80- ... wing-boat/

[frankieboy]

Yes I have tried the oarboard and also an Alden version. The drag is created because the thing sits on top of the water and is paddleboard wide, paddleboards are designed for stability and slow speed, they don't need to be displacement hulls, the whole thing is just wrong. The biomechanics of the rig are all wrong as well as you sit really high up. The woman who's oarboard I tried hated it, she complained about the 2 parts oars but mostly that the oarboard was inflatable and you had to get it really well inflated otherwise it would go soft during the outing

[rsjmob@gmail.com]

At about 225 or a bit more, I am a bit too heavy for a regular ocean shell. I row an old alden double as a single. Might be heavy, but it's stable and there's no worries of wakes or waves. I can carry it if I have to, but typically use a little dolly. I've rowed it off the beach, or docks. I only really rowed sweep in college, but the sculling experience in this is great. Find the hull does not like to go much over 7 kts or so, but I am not racing in it. It is plenty fun and really stress free, I row all year in NYC area.

[Doubleplay]

When you say big guy, how big.
The liteboat design is fairly weak on the top deck and flexes badly with folks more than 200lbs in them and I would be concerned long term. The Maas Aero is a wonderful boat but might be a bit small.
The other options are a wherry type thing with sliding seat or the FISA coastal style boats. The FISA coastal style boats are heavy (75 to 80 lbs) but they are designed for open water and are fun to row. There are several makes, Eurodiffusion, LEO are 2. Popular with some clubs in Canada.

Lastly absolutely avoid the SUP paddle board with a rowing unit strapped to it like an oarboard , surfscull or similar, horrible, like towing a bucket behind IMO

I was thinking to buy a Lifeboat then I saw this. Do you have personal experience with Lifeboats? Any feedback appreciated.
Thanks

[frankieboy]

I've rowed one a couple of times, it's just the design is that you stand on the deck to get in and at that point there is a hatch. Once you are in you can feel the deck flex a little each stroke. I've not seen any old ones but I would be concerned over cracking in that area over a period of time. If you want to go down the liteboat road row one before making any conscious or subconscious decision about buying. They are also about 70lbs and need a dolly to move them around. On the plus side the rowing position seems good and the fittings and build quality seems good