Drake Rowboat Series
Drake Rowboat Series
DRAKE 17 | DRAKE 19 | DRAKE RACEBOAT
The Drake 17 is a very, very special boat for me because it was my first design/build project and the boat that really began my career. Over many winter nights, I had dreamed and dreamed of a boat that would take me far out into Casco Bay, among the outer islands and rocky edges of the Gulf of Maine; a boat that was so efficient under oars that I could row all day; a boat so pretty that I wouldn't be able to stop looking at it when I came home. Originally drawn by hand, the Drake Rowboat was also one of my first kit offerings. Many have been built all over the world -- east and west coast of the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Most of those builders also wanted an "uncommonly good" rowboat, a fast boat but also a boat that would take care of them in open water. Drake was certainly inspired by a number of boats by reputable designers. But I wanted to go leaner and faster than the other traditional fixed-seat rowboat plans showed and I had already learned that a great rowboat must also be lightweight. Drake features a reasonably long, narrow waterline to give her slip and glide through the water, but not so narrow as to feel "tippy". On the contrary, the Drake is quite stable which really provides a great deal of comfort out in open water. You can move around inside without worry and with kids aboard, no problem. My family and I frequently rowed out to islands to explore. I went for long, solo rows into open water, for an entire 20-mile day covering the more open waters of Casco Bay and stopping by favorite islands for a break. I raced the boat and did quite well, winning first and second place medals in the Essex River Races.
From the moment I finished the Drake 17, a 19footer was already taking shape in my mind. It was simply a matter of waiting for a customer, a builder and a block of time. It all came together in early 2014, the Drake 19 project began...
DRAKE 17
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 17' 4"
LWL 15' 3"
Beam 4' 1-3/4"
Draft 6"
Depth amidships 12 1/2"
Sail Area 60 SF
DRAKE 19
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 19' 2"
LWL 17' 3"
Beam 50-1/2"
Draft 7"
Depth amidships 16"
Hull weight 145 lbs
Downwind sail area 60 SF
DRAKE RACEBOAT
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 18' 3"
LWL 17'
Beam 48-1/2"
Depth 14"
Displacement 306 lbs
Hull weight 75 lbs
Cp 0.58