We’ve carried a variation of the Catalina Wherry, a 14-foot (4.3m) rowing dinghy, on all our cruising boats going back 30 years. Even Wind Horse had a used version which we picked up in New Zealand prior to leaving. However, we’ve been hankering for something a little more sophisticated, and have been looking at rowing dinghies with sliding seats. A sliding seat allows the rower to use both arms and legs when working the oars.

After arriving in the Northwest we started seeing a lot of sliding seat dinghies built by Gig Harbor Yachts, of Gig Harbor, Washington. There were a number of things about their 14-foot model which appealed to us. Its sloop would fill the need to daysail. And it allows the sliding seat to be fixed in an aft position, and then rowed double. We contacted the factory in June and were told four months for delivery. That was too long as we’d be a 1000 miles south by then.

On our way back through Puget Sound we thought we’d try again. We were happy to learn they’d just taken in trade (on a longer design) a 1-year-old boat of the configuration we wanted. We bought it on the phone.

The length of this boat is 6 inches (150mm) longer than our old Wherry. It is also 4 inches (100mm) wider.

The hull shape keeps the volume more centralized than our old dink. In technical terms this would be a lower prismatic, indicating better low-speed performance, with less top end. The boat is more stable than what we are used to, easy to board off the swim step from abeam or the bow. We expected that this lower prismatic hull shape and increased stability would be a little harder to row, but the boat feels very nice under way, so the penalty, if there is one, is small. Overall, this shape is a better compromise than our Wherry.

If you are really into hull shapes, check out the ends in the photo above. Notice how little boat is in the water, compared to the middle, where Steve is sitting. Keeping the volume in the middle gives more stability and less wetted surface.

In this photo you can see the sliding seat, which rides on skateboard wheels, and the foot brace (removable) which has Velcro toe straps. We need to adjust it aft for Steve and forward for Linda – something that’s gone onto the “To Do” list for the winter. The aft set of row lock points on the gunnel are for when two are using oars.

We picked up a pair of spoonbill-type oars. This high aspect ratio spoon shape delivers power to the water more efficiently than straight-bladed oars. We’ve got a second set of heavier straight blade oars for use in the surf.

This new “rowing machine” is guaranteed to do wonders for waistlines, recreate our abs of old, and tone arm, leg, and shoulder muscles, all while providing an enjoyable time on the water. Time will tell…