Considering building either a CLC skerry (an adaptation of a faering among other things) or a wineglass wherry as a general purpose family rowing boat. This will be the one boat for the three of us to muck about in for a while - any experience regarding stability (not just rowing) and other such appreciated. The skerry looks like a more stable boat to me, but I'm no great waterman.

-- Kimo Hardy (kimohardy@hotmail.com), February 15, 2003

Answers

I haven't rowed either of these boats, but from looking at the lines and the photos I'd say the Wineglass Wherry is a more stable boat, and probably larger and easier to pack in for 3 people. You also might look at a Whitehall 14. It has similar lines to the Wineglass Wherry. Kind of depends on the type of water you are going rowing in. The skerry as a more flat bottom, which will make the initial stabilty greater, but then it will flip faster once it reaches the tipping point. It also looked shorter, and better suited to 2 people. But as with all boats, if you can find one to tryout for yourself you'll be happier.

www.pigmyboats.com/bowron.htm has some great photos of a 15 day trip in the wherry and you can see from the one where the guy is laying in the bottom how much room is in the boat. -Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), February 25, 2003.

Thanks Gary - appreciate your eye . Per the kit manufacturers you were entirely correct - the Skerry is really a 2 person boat, the Wherry can comfortably handle 3. The Whitehall 14 is tempting as well but don't know if it's available in an all-inclusive kit - this is a first-time project.

Thanks again

Kimo

-- kimo hardy (kimohardy@hotmail.com), February 25, 2003.

After a bit of searching with google I did find a 14ft whitehall like boat kit. http://www.geodesicairoliteboats.com/boats/classic14.html (I don't know anything about this company or the boats, but the kids in the photos look like they had fun.)And that the CLC "Annapolis wherry" which is very similar in lines.

Anyone built one of these airolite boats? The translucdent skin makes it look fragile. But looks can be deceving. -Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), February 26, 2003.

I built the Aerolite "Toy Whitehall" (about 7' long, 28" wide) a couple of years ago, for my young son. On the positive side, the boat is very lightweight and moves well for something so tiny. On the minus side, the many ribs and stringers are a royal pain to sand and varnish (all corners and edges), and the fabric covering can't be sanded without cutting through. Also, grains of sand tend to wedge between the stringers and the fabric, which can lead to cutting through the fabric.

-- John Swensen (swensen@tdl.com), February 27, 2003.

I built the Pygmy wineglass wherry last year and have thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife (8 months pregnant) and I take it out almost every weekend on Puget Sound. The boat is very stable and feels good even in slightly choppy water (10 inches). We often take my parents with us and have a great time. My wife and mother sit together on the stern seat and my father and I row. Once we even had six adults in the boat, although one person had to sit in the bottom and wasn't very comfortable, but the boat moved nicely in calm water and felt very stable with 5 or 6 inches freeboard. I would absolutely recommend the wherry for a family boat. We get comments everywhere on how beautiful the boat is as well, which is fun!

-- Sam Tooley (tooleys@attbi.com), May 08, 2003.