Most boats in our range can be motored, sailed or rowed, but we are
often asked something like
"which is the best for rowing, as that's my main interest?"

The closest thing we have to a Performance Rowing Boat is the Trio 14 (click here Trio 14), shown here with fixed rowlocks on the gunwhales, and described by one owner as "effortless". However we can improve on that! For the last year or so we have been offering simple bolt-on outrigger brackets - these extend the rowlock position outwards by 6" and enable the use of 8ft oars. This makes her pretty quick.

And the ultimate development for the Trio 14 will be a Piantedosi-designed
sliding seat or sliding outrigger (available Feb 2012). In our opinion the
sliding rigger is probably best suited to this boat, as it reduces the fore-
and-aft "pitching" caused by sliding a person's weight, which would other-
wise slow the boat down. (Sliding riggers are very efficient, and if you
haven't come across the concept before it's probably because they're
banned from, or very heavily penalised in, most competitive situations!) 

The Trio 14's hull is long and slim by comparison to most other general-
purpose boats - when designing her the beam was dictated by the average
width between the wheel arches of an estate car - but nothing like as
narrow (or unstable!) as a competitive rowing skiff.  As such we think she
is a good compromise: a boat you can launch and row by yourself in the
morning; and take the family out on the river with a small motor on the
transom in the afternoon.

If you would like more carrying capacity, and rougher water capability, the
Trio 14's bigger sister (click here Trio 16) is the next best bet. She can be
set up with two rowing positions and, whilst fractionally beamier in proportion
than the 14, remains a very easily-driven hull. She also makes a fine sailing
boat, and will plane at up to 12 knots with a 6hp engine on the back!

Our 8 and 9ft simulated clinker dinghies (click here Clinker dinghy) also make
good general-purpose rowing boats, but being designed as load carriers are
not as slim as the Trio range.

Finally the unexpectedly - to most newcomers - good performer under oars
is the 8ft Pram dinghy (click here Pram dinghy). It's all to do with the
underwater shape, and this design has lots of rocker (upward curve) so
that the bow transom does not submerse until she's quite heavily loaded.
She can't compete with the Trios but is incomparably better than inflatable
or folding boats. Sailing Today magazine said "How refreshing it was to row
a 'proper' rowing boat and the ease with which I got into my stride brought
a smile to my face. Compared to an inflatable, the Nestaway is easily-driven,
quick to accelerate, effortless to keep going at a good speed... and spins
on a sixpence".