Testimonials

“Everything Harold said about the boats is so true. I am 72 years of age and have owned my Solo 14 since 2015. I row on the Ottawa River from April to November and my boat is truly an all water boat. I purchased the Oar Board package sold by Whitehall and enjoyed it also this past summer. However, nothing beats my Solo 14. Thanks Harold for adding another fun dimension to my active life.”

Thanks for the beautiful boat. I love the high level of quality. I am amazed at how easily my boat glides over the water when we are slide seat rowing.

It is such a good workout and being on the water makes it so enjoyable. And my two dogs just love being out in the boat.

This is the boat that I have been looking for, for thirty years. It’s a real rowing boat. I can row in salt water. It’s got speed. I can pull it up on the beach and it’s unsinkable. That’s why I got one, I love it!

(John rows the water around Deception Pass and Fidalgo Island, Washington)

Good morning Harold: First, let me say I am totally enjoying my Solo 14 rowboat! I am very impressed with the quality of the workmanship throughout.

What a seaworthy hull! I used my Solo 14 to go find a dinghy lost in the high tide and storm we had this Spring.

I was in literally 5 ft.- 6 ft. waves coming first abeam, then heading into them on the way home, (quite the row!). No water entered the boat at any time. (I did find the dinghy, and retrieved it later when the waves quieted).

I’m a happy customer in Cape Cod, MA with a Whitehall Solo. I had a problem with an apparently defective rowing mirror that turned cloudy after just one summer season. Your man Michael Marek promptly replied and is sending a replacement. As I said to him, you guys run a great company. I enjoy the newsletters too, which help create a nice community of rowers that I’m happy to be part of. I just thought you would like to know, from a far away and happy customer.

Having fun doesn’t quite adequately convey how much I love this boat! I have been rowing it in the mornings and it handles waves, swells, wakes and contrary tides so well I am getting more comfortable in it every time I take it out.

I really enjoy seeing the eddies from my oars as they disappear into the distance. I’ve always kept myself fit but I’ve never been more physically fit since I started rowing the Solo 14.

My kids love going for rides and even the dog gets to come along!

The best part of towing the Solo was having her with me to row every morning. What a wonderful way to spend time while cruising… I rowed so much I ended up with blisters on my hands and bruises on my bum! THAT is a lot of rowing!

We are enjoying our Solo 14 every day. On the few days we don’t row, we just enjoy looking at her bobbing on the water right in front of our window.

I have not forgotten you, my life has changed and revolves around my Oar Board. I’ve passed 18 months and just set my all-time speed record for my twice-weekly course. I am fit! Never even one ache or pain resulting from exertion, always taking my resting HR from 70 to above 150! It is a miracle device!

I am truly blessed when I am back home at 9 AM having my coffee. I am on top of the world and all set for a great day which always follows. What a life-changer. Oh, did I mention the maintenance fee? How much do alarm clock batteries cost per year?… Ya, that’s about it!

I thank you and Chris Crowley.

Note: Chris Crowley wrote the NY Times bestseller “Younger Next Year” in which he states, “There is no better exercise in the world than rowing a single scull … it exercises your whole body while it immerses you in a rhythm and takes you to places that are good for your soul.” John purchased his Oar Board™ and SUP after reading his book and also because it is light weight and easier to take to the lake atop his 72 VW Bug!

The Tango has become mine and I wish I could row all day. Today under the blue blue sky I felt like a part of the universe.

Just tried the Oar Board for the first time. I chose to pair it with a Pau Hana Crossfit touring board (12’6″) and honestly, if I closed my eyes, I could not tell that I was not in a rowing shell. It was actually difficult to tell that it was not the seat that was sliding, but rather the outrigger/foot stretcher.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical after assembling everything in my living room and feeling how loose the sliding mechanism fit when positioned in the track. On the water, I was stunned with how smoothly and fluidly it felt. Who needs stupid bearings and wheels anyway?!!

Thanks so much.

It’s dry-suit season for rowing now in Maine. It wasn’t purposeful, but I had her in 6 foot near breaking waves (I was scared!), but she didn’t take on a drop of water going into the waves, and in following seas she didn’t have any big tendency to broach. I shouldn’t have been out in this particular stretch with the tide, current and depth of water, but the Solo 14 got me back safely! I carry a PLB, radio, and cell phone (and anchor in case an oarlock breaks). I’m a retired Coast Guard officer, so the last thing I want is the Coast Guard picking me out of the water. 🙂 Fun boat…

I just rowed 12 miles a couple days ago (the mileage isn’t that extraordinary), but I circumnavigated Great Cranberry Island. The south shore of the island is open to the Gulf of Maine, so you have to choose your weather… still had 6 foot swells (long period)… the Whitehall was great.

I put about 10 miles/week this summer so far on the Solo 14, one-third of the time with my 9 year old in the stern and my 11 year old in the bow (my 9 year old is heavier!).

I keep it up on my dock and it takes 3 minutes to launch. I’ve casually thought of starting a rowing-club/rental here (as we get huge tourist crowd in the summer) with maybe a fleet of three Solo 14s, but I need to think about it more. Thanks for touching base…

Wow… a small world to be interested in the same boat that’s built on the opposite coast! I row the Solo 14 year round (snow, rain, fog, sun, wind, tide). The boat is bulletproof and rows like a dream in all conditions. I row around Great Cranberry, then thru ‘the gut’ and back to Southwest Harbor often, or from SWH out to Little Cranberry, or out the Western Way to Ship’s Harbor, or up to Valley Cove, or down Somes Sound… my ‘quickie row’ is a lap around Greenings, which I actually just did today (when foggy I do the Greenings lap). The boat handles beautifully with seas coming from any direction. I use a dry suit in Winter of course (and PLB, radio, phone, extra oarlock, anchor), but the boat is very stable. I’ve been in the Western Way in rollers with the horizon disappearing and surfing a little bit and it did great. I have several other small boats, and this boat, by far, is used the most. It’s rid me of 30 extra pounds too! As Michael (shared with you), I’d be happy for you to look at or take a test drive in the harbor if you find yourself on Mount Desert. I keep it on a dock in the harbor in front of my father’s house year round. Let me know if you’re interested.