Our Rowboat Designs
Left to right: Odyssey 18™, Odyssey 165™ and Adventurer™
We have been evolving our rowboat designs optimized for comfortable long distance touring, exercise rowing, photography and general recreational use with the Frontrower™ rowing system.
Our first design was for a two person touring type rowing boat. This evolved into the Odyssey 18. Underwater, this boat is a double-ender and it tracks well without a keel, skeg or rudder. It has a narrow waterline for low resistance. The sides flair out above the water, giving it additional secondary stability. The sides then turn back inward making it narrower at the gunnels. This design features a foam core bottom adding rigidity without the need for frames, and adding extra flotation to the hull. Designed for doubles rowing, it also rows very well as a solo rowing boat or solo with a passenger. At 18 feet long and 35-1/2 inches beam, the bare hull weighs in at around 70 pounds. Elizabeth and I rowed this boat to a senior mixed doubles record in the Slocum River Regatta, averaging 6-1/2 mph.
We like the Odyssey 18 a lot, but if you aren't going to row doubles, it is more boat than you need. We wanted a smaller lighter version for solo rowing, and came up with the Odyssey 165. All the same features, but at 16-1/2 feet long and 35-1/2 inch beam, the bare hull weighs about 60 pounds. The Odyssey 165 may be rowed solo or with a passenger.
Our rowboat designs are available as plans.
Our first design was for a two person touring type rowing boat. This evolved into the Odyssey 18. Underwater, this boat is a double-ender and it tracks well without a keel, skeg or rudder. It has a narrow waterline for low resistance. The sides flair out above the water, giving it additional secondary stability. The sides then turn back inward making it narrower at the gunnels. This design features a foam core bottom adding rigidity without the need for frames, and adding extra flotation to the hull. Designed for doubles rowing, it also rows very well as a solo rowing boat or solo with a passenger. At 18 feet long and 35-1/2 inches beam, the bare hull weighs in at around 70 pounds. Elizabeth and I rowed this boat to a senior mixed doubles record in the Slocum River Regatta, averaging 6-1/2 mph.
We like the Odyssey 18 a lot, but if you aren't going to row doubles, it is more boat than you need. We wanted a smaller lighter version for solo rowing, and came up with the Odyssey 165. All the same features, but at 16-1/2 feet long and 35-1/2 inch beam, the bare hull weighs about 60 pounds. The Odyssey 165 may be rowed solo or with a passenger.
Our rowboat designs are available as plans.
