Salt Pond Rowing

Salt Pond Rowing specializes in glued plywood lapstrake construction using high-quality marine plywood and solid wood with West System epoxy resin. Designs come from the drawing boards of John Brooks, Joel White, and Joe Thompson. Five boats are available including a Compass Harbor Pram, a 12 ft. Salt Pond Skiff, a Thompson-designed 15 ft. Swampscott Dory, an 18 ft. Peregrine wherry, and a 25 ft. high-performance recreational shell. Accessories include custom spoon oars, stock oars, oarlocks, leathers, gunwale guard, and wheel dollies.

Glued plywood lapstrake construction can be achieved with a number of techniques including stitch and glue; however, Joe prefers systems developed by Joel White, Tom Hill, and John Brooks along with tricks he has developed himself over the years. Joe's boats typically have a thicker bottom plank to give the boat a wider glue seam at the gar-board plank as well as a tougher bottom. The bottom is glassed up to the top of the garboard planks with glass cloth. The boats receive two coats of epoxy inside and out, followed by four coats or more of paint or varnish. Seat systems, sail rigs, centerboards and rudders, and oars can be simple or traditional depending on the owner's preference.

The shop is open by appointment or by chance.