Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 Sailing Rowboat

The Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 Sailing Rowboat delights both experienced sailors and beginners. It offers a way to enjoy sailing connecting with wind and waves without the responsibilities and high costs that come with owning a much bigger boat. It gets back to the feel of wind on your face with your hand on the tiller making minute adjustments to every slight wind change. Should the wind disappear simply drop the jib, lower the mainsail, grab the oars and cruise home at 3 to 5 knots (5 to 9k) at the same time getting a smooth low impact full body workout.

Under sail, it handles superbly due to the large kick-up rudder. The centerboard trunk containing the ‘rock proof’ solid cast-bronze centerboard provides stability and ease of handling. It requires only 6” (15cm) of water to float with the keel and rudder fully retracted so the Tyee 14 can tuck into quiet uncrowded spots away from larger boats. It is fully bleachable, handy for exploring and for camping ashore.

The efficient, easily handled sail rig sets up in less than five minutes and when not in use. With the mast down all the gear stows neatly inside the boat. It accommodates three or even four people and can be smoothly rowed for hours at around 4 or 5 knots (8 -10 kph).

It evolved from the famous Tyee fishing rowboats designed and ‘clinker-built’ by Ned Painter back in 1910. These rowboats became very popular with local fishermen and famous for the way they carried a heavy load and comfortably handled the choppy tidal waters around Campbell River. An salmon fishing guiding industry grew up around them, Famous celebrities of the day including Zane Grey, Bob Hope and John Wayne plus thousands of others enjoyed rowing these boats and fishing for Tyee salmon at the world famous Painters Lodge. For the complete history of this famous rowboat see the article The History of the Tyee 14 Fishing Rowboat – A Century Old and Rowing Strong.

The Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 is custom built by our master craftsmen in our shop in Victoria, BC Canada. It features exquisite lapstrake-style planking exquisitely cast in hand laid fiberglass. It is built to last 100 years or longer providing sailing and rowing pleasure for generations. Our commitment to the highest quality plus superior design makes this the best boat of its type in the marketplace. It is CE certified, Canadian and US Coast Guard approved. Built-in buoyancy makes it virtually unsinkable.

The hull is hand-laid fiberglass, impeccably finished inside and out. The woodwork is solid teak finished in hand-rubbed oil. Copper rivets and roves are used on the gunnel, and the metal fittings are custom-cast bronze. Maintenance involves cleaning the teak and applying a coat of exterior teak oil and requires only about three hours per year. See the article on Care, Storage & Maintenance of your Classic Whitehall Spirit® boat.

If you require traditional oars we supply the best available. There is a choice of Spruce/Carbon Traditional Oars with Leather collars and pressure cast oarlocks or all Carbon Fiber Traditional Oars with plastic collars and offset oarlocks.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 sailing model is right at home on the deck of a yacht, at the cabin, on a trailer in the garage or parked on a dock. If stored outside on a Dock Bunk or a Boat Dolly or perhaps on a small boat trailer, and exposed to weather, then Lexan battens and a fitted waterproof Sunbrella cover is needed.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 sailing model is available with optional slide seat sculling gear complete with hinged bronze outriggers and optional 9’6″ open-water sculling oars. It is also available as a fishing rowboat model.

It is available with the factory option of solid teak floorboards or a fully-buoyant “Ocean Tender Floor” which adds substantial extra reserve buoyancy to the boat. The forward storage locker enables gear such as small gas tanks, tackle boxes, or lifejackets to be left aboard, dry and secure. The spacious foredeck area on top of the forward locker is a great place for the dog to hang out while rowing or sailing. Check out the sailing options on the sailing gear accessories page.

Here are links to videos on How to Sail and How to Slide Seat Scull and How to Row Fixed Seat available for those who want to teach themselves to row sail or learn slide seat sculling.

Call or email to get a quote for a Classic Whitehall Spirit® with accessories delivered to your driveway or cottage anywhere in Canada or the mainland USA. We also ship worldwide with Whitehall Spirit® rowing boat owners now located in over 52 countries.

How to Order

Many customers first print the “Pricing and Accessories PDF”, in the “Pricing” tab above, for the boat they are planning to purchase, and then check-off the items they are interested in before calling or sending it to us. This is a good way to begin the process.

Alternatively, you can call to discuss your options, especially if you are unsure about what Whitehall boat model you are interested in. Your order may be as simple as a basic rowing model with oars, or as elaborate as a slide-seat rowing & sailing model with accessories, delivered to another continent.

Ordering/Delivery Details & Policies

Please read complete details by clicking here.