13' Carpenter Boatshop Lapstrake Rowboat (2014) - ASTREA

We found Astrea in The Carpenter’s Boat Shop showroom and she was exactly what we were looking for. The lines are based on an old traditional rowing dinghy they found Down East and was built by their apprentices. This fabulous non profit takes 8 – 10 apprentices for nine months and are dedicated to nurturing and enriching lives through community living, serving others and building beautiful wooden boats. Making full use of the Sheepscot River tides, I have covered some impressive distances, one day covering 10 miles. Rowing can give a very different view of the river and its wild life. Seals have actually nudged my motionless oars. She rows easily, with very little effort once moving. The old timers knew a thing or two. I chose to keep the finish rather than let it naturally grey (several of the photographs are recent). She is not varnished, so is easy to maintain, with a liberal coating of Turpentine, Varnish and Tung Oil mixed in equal proportions and dried with a cloth after 5 minutes. I do this once at the start of the season, but I do have a fitted cover to stop sun damage on the float. She is purely designed for rowing and would be tender with a sail. The Carpenter’s Boat Shop’s Catspaw would be a better choice. Incidentally everyone at the shop stops for ‘Tea Break’ from 10 to 10:20 every weekday and encourage any visitors to join them to see the facility, what they produce and to meet the apprentices. Its a pretty amazing place. They currently build the Monhegan Skiff that starts at $2300 new, plus they get many interesting boats donated to them, which they sell at very fair prices. They sell over 40 donated boats a year, so there is something for everyone!