Plans for Rowing Boats

Link to my page about rowboats The writing is a bit disjointed, I just wrote up the notes I was taking when I was trying to figure out what makes a good rowboat. I'll eventually get to it and clean up the prose.

There are many boatbuilding methods suitable for rowboats.

Here is my page on stitch and glue boatbuilding and here is my Strip Building page

I built both my Skerry and my Apple Pie Tender pram with the intention of rowing them. They have not disappointed me. I am not including tenders in this list of plans, only boats that are intended for rowing, or which can be rowed and sailed. I don't think a row boat makes a good motor boat so I'm not really including them here either unless they look like they would row well.

Some designers, such as Chesapeake Light Craft, offer kits and plans. I have found that building from plans is very satisfying but does not really save any money if you include your time getting materials together. Kits are good ways of getting on the water faster. Don't think that kits are instant builds though. There is lots of work involved.

Rowing boat plans in no particular order.

Email me if a link is broken. I try to update everything often but the internet is a fast paced place. (and I'm slow)

• Bateau's Otter 16 has optional sailing rig. Weekender 12 is a quick build rowboat. They have others too.
• Michael Storer rowboat "Easy, pretty, plywood rowboat plan." He has many plans available, lots of articles and set up tips particularly for lug sails. Free oar plans
• Francois Vivier has some seriously nice row boat designs. Look at the Yole 16. He also has many gorgeous sailing dinghies.
• Jim Michalak has several row-boat plans available from Duckworks. He specializes in simple effective boats. Video of Mayfly 14. Link to his book which has plans for the Mayfly 14
• Devlin Boats has several models of rowing boats. Here is the Fairhaven Flyer 20, He also has a book on Stitch and Glue Boatbuilding
• Glen-L have several rowing skiffs. He has different models of fast rowing boats. HIs plans include full size pattern for sliding seat and riggers. Boatbuilding with Plywood is full of information
• CLC, Chesapeake Light Craft, good designs and Handsome boats Several plans and kits. Helpful support while you're building too. Rowing shell, wherry, tandem, simple skiff, many designs.
• Ross Lillistone has several plans. Nice build diaries and videos too.
• Jem Watercraft has a 17 ft Rowing canoe and several other easily built designs.
• Pigmy Boats has a lovely Wineglass Wherry and other designs. They offer many kits as well as plans. Great greenland kayak designs.
• Fyne Boats, Distributor for Cheasapeake Light Craft, Woods Design, Guillemot and others. Offers plans and kits
• Spira International has several Grand Banks Style Dories, skiffs and duck boats.
• Guillemot Kayaks has plans for Adironkak Guide boat as well as the Noank Pulling Boat.
• Dory Boat Plans A collection of dory plans I put together.
• John Gardner's book: Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for 47 Boats Link is to Amazon.com. Offset tables and measurements.
• American Small Sailing Craft is Chapelle's book also well worth looking at. IN Particular check out the Peapods.
• Sandy Point Boatworks has a rowing peapod design built as a strip boat. Stable and reliable double-ender. also other plans
• Baker Boat Works has whitehalls and Wherries plans. Links to Mystic sea port org who has plans. You need to email them.
• Wooden Boat.com has many plans for rowing crafts.
• Duckworks has many plans for rowing boats. They also carry lots of other plans. Spend a couple of hours happily checking out boats.
• William Atkin's Bruce Conklin pulling boat. Designed to track well she was originally designed for trolling. Many designs for rowing and motor boats too
• Duck Trap Woodworking has a Matinicus double ender peapod. Can be rowed or sailed.
• Maine Maritime Museum Offers traditional wooden craft plans.
• Ultra Light Boats can be made into nice rowboats. This is a link to my web page on ultra light boatbuilding. There are several links.
• Arwen Marine has plans and kits for lovely boats. Many great photographs and build diaries. French and English Site.
• In the Boatshed Free boat plans. Check out the Ella Skiff rowing boat. Leave yourself some time to look around. Lots of information in Gavin Atkin's Weblog.
• Adirondack Guide Boat plans from Wooden Boat Magazine
• Selway Fisher offers many rowing skiff designs. Quite a variety, have a look.
• John Welsford has several row boat designs in particular, check out the Seagull
• Angus Rowboats has several models. Their expedition rowboat is outstanding. They also have plans for Sliding Seat and Rigger set ups.
• Ron Rantilla has several row boats. Link is to a front facing row boat. He also has designs for special needs, senior rowing, and adaptive boarding systems for wheelchair bound folks, youtube video.
• Brooks Boats Designs has some lovely boat plans. Link is to Peregrine. Single and double rowing boats.
• Arch Davis has several models plans, supplies, some kit parts. Also spoon or straight blade oar plans.
• Gartside Boats offers many plans including rowing boats. He even has a pedal boat.
• Chase Small Craft has plans and kits for a lovely fixed seat rower, Drake rowboat is 17+ feet and is designed to maximize seaworthiness and easy glide.
• Dreamcatcher has plans for ultralight skin on frame boats, including rowboats., They seem to be having some website problems right now. I'll check later to see if the link is still good.
• Ocean rowing boat B and G Yacht Design. Cross the ocean in this boat.
• Duck Trap Woodworking has plans for many different small boats including row boats, skiffs and tenders.
• Ray Klebba's White Salmon BoatWorks has plans for a rowing Cosine Wherry. (and other boats and oar plans)
• DIY Wood Boat has free boat plans from expired copyright, mostly from old magazines.
• Hannu's Boatyard Have fun checking out his boats. He experiments and has one sheet, boats, and various others. He has the smallest row boat I know of. The Halfpea, scroll down to see his test run.
• Bear Mountain Boats They have a nice Whitehall 16 feet Rowing boat, and others.
• Dynamite Payson worked with Philip Bolger. He has several books and plans. He also has a book on boat model making: Boat Modeling with Dynamite Payson: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building Models of Small Craft
• Bear Mountain Boats They have a nice Whitehall 16 feet Rowing boat, and others.
• Denman Marine Offer kits for several rowing boats as well as a sliding seat rowing unit. Down under supplier
• Tender Craft link to their catalogue page
• Oughtred's boats plans and kits for Iain Oughtred's designs, In Australia.
• Carrying Place has plans and kits for a lovely cedar strip Peterborough rowboat. Check it out.
• Canadian Canoes offers plans and kits for his Ontario Whitehall Rowing Boat
• Swan Boat Design offers rowing boats, fishing skiff, sailing dinghy plans.

More plans

If you are interested in building a rowboat there are several types of boats that have traditionally been rowed. Scandinavian faerings (the name refers to four rowing spots) is a good place to look. Iain Oughtred's Elf is a good example. Dories and Peapods have been the mainstay of traditional fishing and have proved themselves. Whitehalls and wherries have long been sportsmen's choice for elegant rowing. Rowing shells are the fastest and most specialized. They require skill and quiet water.

Small Print

I try to be accurate and check my information, but mistakes happen. Also keep in mind while I'm in a preachy mood, that a good set of plans will save you lots of time and if you've paid for them you can actually often contact the designer and get help.

This information is for general knowledge. If you plan to build a boat, do your homework. Check out Yahoo boat groups, find people who have built similar boats, make sure you understand the plans before you start your boatbuilding project. Then enjoy yourself.