Drake Rowboat / 19'

Cruise | Camp | explore

A seaworthy, expedition boat kit for explorers

 

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA   19' 2" | LWL   17' 3"
Beam   50-1/2" | waterline beam 34.5”
Draft    7" | Depth amidships 16"  
Hull weight 145 lbs | Displacement 542lb
Downwind sail area 60 SF

Once the 17-foot Drake Rowboat was on the water for a year or so, I began thinking about a larger version that would be as exceptionally seaworthy and still fast, but more suitable for tandem rowers or a single rower who wanted to take gear and do more serious camp-cruising.

The idea stewed until a customer came along who saw the design brief for the D19 and said, "that is my boat". Unfortunately he is a hermit and off-the-grid so pictures and stories have been very hard to pull out of him! But the sea trials went fantastically.

The D19 is stable -- easy enough to stand in like the D17 -- yet is slippery through the water with great glide. The boat has enough flotation for a person to self rescue with the side tanks and flotation in the bow. With the sliding seat, I had an easy time of slicing through choppy water solo and picking up very good speed. In wind and chop, like her smaller sister, she excels and wants more!

Of course performance is highly dependent upon the proper set up of the rowing stations and getting the ergonomics right, which is rower dependent. But the seat height, which is somewhat established by the side tank height, feels very good and more height can be gained by adding seat padding. 

 

For two rowers, fixed seat rowing this boat in open water is a dream. She will take as much wind, chop, and waves as long as the rowers are strong and capable. In smooth water, the glide and stability will delight. Like the 17-footer, I expect she will win most fixed seat, double rowing races. Boatbuilder and friend George Costakis of Bartender Boats in Oregon built his own D19 to row tandem, sliding-seat, with his son in the infamous Seventy-48 race in Puget Sound. They rowed both years and did well, even though they were not out to win, but finish inside the pack and have a great time.

The Poseidon sliding seat rig is designed into the boat. The 7/8" Stainless pipes sit in the precut bulkheads. The footrest for the 19 is designed to be separate from the pipes so that the floorboards can roll up and lay out on the pipes acting as a sleeping platform. This tested very well during sea trials, and a long nap could have been had! A tent can be designed to go over the boat and make camping aboard very comfortable.

If the rowers choose to go fixed seat, in lieu of the fore/aft pipes, wooden cleats are attached to the side tanks and the fixed seats sit on top. They can more fore and aft to adjust for trim.

The Drake 19 can take a sail rig like this one, called a squgsail designed by sailmaker Todd Bradshaw.

“From the moment I finished the Drake 17, a 19-footer 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...”

Complete kit contents for the Drake Rowboat 19’

Plywood kit | Timber kit | Hardware kit | Epoxy kit

The plywood kit is cut from Bryunzeel Okoume plywood, mostly 6mm and some 9mm for structure.

 

The timber kit is cut from a mix of light hardwoods and softwoods, to keep the boat light.

Options, Upgrades and Accessories for Drake 19 Rowboat

  • Fixed seat or sliding seat option (different frame layouts)

  • Upgrade to clear cedar for floorboards

  • Oval vs. Horn oarlocks optional (fixed seat)

    Folding outrigger brackets upgrade (fixed or sliding - requires longer oars)

    Poseidon Sliding Seat System (email us)

  • Adjustable footrest options

    Oarmaking kit or Shaw & Tenney oars

    Sawhorse cradles (highly suggested)

    Downwind sail rig (upgrade)

    Tool kit for building the D19escription

 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS

Unlike the Drake 17, the 19 has a fore deck with a bulkhead underneath that creates an enclosed flotation tank in the bow. An aft deck and bulkhead can be added. Three frames and the side tanks create a very stiff structure for the hull. All planking is 6mm Okoume and timbers should be limited to Spruce and lighter hardwoods to keep her light. Hull #1 weighed in at 145 pounds, but we think it can be light with careful wood choice and construction.