Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 Fixed Seat Traditional Rowboat

The Westcoast 11.6 can row in wave conditions that are much too rough for most boats of this size. A steady speed of 3 to 4 knots (to 9 km/h) can be maintained for hours. It packs a load of 4 adults quite easily. It’s very stable. Wakes or waves are no problem at all for this great little sea boat.

The Westcoast 11.6 rowboat was designed by Rudy Kirmshe in 1971. Rudy’s design criteria called for a rowboat ideal for family use, or a yacht tender and specifically good for ease of rowing and handling in wind or waves with three or four adults aboard.

Two rowing stations enable a choice of rowing position depending on the load aboard. With no load aboard, it is usually rowed from the mid position, but the mid or forward position enables the ability to trim the boat effectively. It is not designed for adult tandem rowing (two persons rowing at the same time). However, two children or young adults can row together, size permitting.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 rowboat comes complete with solid teak woodwork, copper riveted gunnels, custom cast bronze fittings, an impeccably finished lapstrake fiberglass hull, bilge drain/plug, and a bronze builder’s plaque. The forward storage locker enables gear such as small gas tanks, tackle boxes, or lifejackets to be left aboard, dry, and secure.

All these features are standard except for a factory optional Solid Teak Floor or the Ocean Tender Fully Buoyant Floor. The Ocean Tender Floor adds substantial extra reserve buoyancy to the boat, great for when the boat is used as a ship’s tender or shore boat. With no one aboard, simply pull the drain plug and the boat will self-bail. When it rains, with the plug pulled the boat self-bails. Other Factory Options include a Stainless-steel Keel Strip or a Custom Name.

We recommend 8’ long oars for this model and set up for non-overlapped use. 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. These can be shipped along with the boat when delivered.

The forward storage locker enables gear such as small gas tanks, tackle boxes, or lifejackets to be left aboard, dry and secure.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 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 perhaps on a trailer or a dolly, and exposed to weather, fitting it out with Lexan Battens and a Fitted Waterproof Sunbrella Cover are recommended. If tying to a dock or larger boat is part of your plans, consider adding a set of tie-up lines and fenders to your order.

This boat is custom made by our master craftsmen in our shop in Victoria, BC Canada. It is a row boat built to last 100 years or longer providing rowing pleasure for generations of rowers. 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 Westcoast 11.6 has an “untucked” full transom rather than the “wineglass” shape of a Whitehall. The fuller hull shape adds buoyancy aft, making the boat suitable for carrying a heavier load and if desired, a small motor such as the Torqeedo electric outboard.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 model is also available with Slide Seat Sculling Gear or as a Sailing Model. It has also been used extensively as a Lifeguard Patrol Rowboat.

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.

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 may want to teach themselves to row sail or scull.

Call or email to get a quote for a Classic Whitehall Spirit® and 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.

Harold Aune says:

“Marie and I used the Westcoast 11.6 for several years as our ship’s tender on our 47’ sailboat Physis. It is an amazing boat that serves us well in all sorts of conditions. Ours is rigged for sailing and with slide seat sculling gear which keep us fit and healthy.”

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.