Best Sailing Rowboats
There are a lot of factors that go into a sailboat being the best rowboat. Depending on the brand, size, cost, and desired use, many will compete for your business.
While there are potentially more brands out there, these sailing rowboats make the cut based on consumer reports and quality. In addition, they all have a rich history in the sailing rowboat market so you can rest assured you are dealing with high quality craftsmanship.
Angus Rowboats
The Angus Rowboats have been in the business since 2009 when a married couple, Julie and Colin Angus, decided to put their adventurous minds together. In doing so, they have literally accomplished every rowing feat you could possibly imagine and have put that experience to good use when designing boats.
The Sailing Row Cruiser is arguably the best boat that they offer in terms of versatility. This boat was designed with the same racing hull but they gave it a ketch sailing rig with planing amas.
When sailing, this boat can reach up to 12 knots. As for rowing in calmer waters, you can expect to reach up to four knots or so.
The main hull can be utilized as the focus of rowing for one person, while the other hulls can contain passengers. When anchored or docked, this boat can also sleep an adult in the cabin.
Looking at costs, it is $1300 for the Row Cruiser Hull and $1820 for the sailing components. To have it all put together, you can have it completed for $3500.
Chesapeake Light Craft
Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) has been dominating for decades in the rowing boats industry. Back in 2020, they were shipping out their 40,000th boat kit.
They have a fairly small staff compared to other big name brands, with just over 20 employees. When it comes to building row boats, they have excellent experience.
They have a handful of sailing rowboats to choose from. These include:
- Skerry
- Passagemaker Standard
- Northeaster Dory
- Jimmy Skiff II
- Eastport Nesting Pram
Skerry
This boat is one of the easiest to build, row, and sail. If you are in the market to build your boat with the kit, this is an excellent choice for first timers. You can expect this to cost around $1200 and up depending on the added features.
Passagemaker Standard
This rowing boat is slightly bigger than the Skerry, as it holds up to three people. If you want something lighter, this boat weighs roughly 90 pounds compared to heavier dinghies. The cost to build this boat is around $3200 and up depending on added features.
Northeaster Dory
One of the more versatile dory boats out there is the Northeaster. This one offers a substantial payload of 800 pounds to carry plenty of gear and a few passengers. This classic looking boat will range in cost, starting around $3600 and more with the sailing components.
Jimmy Skiff II
The original Skiff was designed in 1998 and had a lot of success. Over the next 20 years, the Jimmy Skiff II was designed with better handling, more comfort, better seats, and is 15 percent larger. You are looking at $3700 or more to add the sailing components to this boat.
Eastport Nesting Pram
This dinghy is just under eight feet, so it is light and compatible for anyone wanting to get on the water. These carry a decent load while also being able to sail. The price to add on the sailing components will cost around $2200 or more.
Norseboat
The Norseboat brand prides themselves as the “Swiss army knife of boats”. They offer three sailboats that you can row, which include the Norseboat 12.5, 17.5 Classic, and the 21.5.
Each boat offers unique features that can suit any sailor's tastes. They all are well built and are fast, but the size could make the biggest difference. The prices range from $13,000 to $35,000 depending on size and features.
Norseboat 12.5
This cruiser/tender offers the perfect blend of functionality and performance. Most view this one as just a dinghy, but it can be easily used as a daysailer while rowing. The sailing components are a gaff-rigged cat with a pivoting carbon mast.
Norseboat 17.5 Classic
The best selling Norseboat in their lineup is the 17.5 Classic. This design was the first one made in 2002 when founder Kevin Jeffrey made it happen.
This rig is around 18 feet and can be put through tough conditions while sailing. While sailing, you can expect around eight knots and around three knots while rowing.
Norseboat 21.5
The 21.5 is the best daysailer and coastal cruiser they offer with high performance. This one is just under 22 feet long and can sit up to eight people comfortably.
The sailplan is a sloop rig with a pivoting carbon mast and furling genoa. Whether you are sailing or rowing, you can have the best of both worlds with this design.
Whitehall
Whitehall rowing boats have a unique perspective on rowing. They emphasize getting back to nature and being more outdoors, which their brand nails on the head perfectly.
Their Classic Whitehall Spirit 17 sailing rowboat is one of the best sailing rowboats you can find on the market. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned professional, you can definitely navigate comfortably.
This one allows you to visit shallow waters with its kick-up rudder and easily move your camping gear or picnic supplies with ease. It also does not take long to set up and can easily be swapped from sailing to rowing when needed.
They pride themselves so much on their craft that they claim it will easily last for 100 years, assuming you take care of it. With their built in buoyancy, it is arguably very hard to sink too. You can find this boat starting around $37,000.
Lite Boat XP
Lite XP offers an interesting sailing and rowing experience. These designs are arguably some of the more appealing ones, but they also take into account confort and performance.
The Lite XP 20 has a small cabin to hold two people and you can even sleep on. This is also a perfect size to carry enough belongings to travel for a few days. The price begins around $26,000.
The other one they feature is the Lite XP 16, which is slightly smaller than the 20 and is considered a dinghy. Essentially the same features, you are only missing out on a few feet and storage space. This one costs around $15,500.
Why People Want to Sail and Row
For quite some time, it seemed almost impossible to find a boat that you can sail and row. Sure, many boats are excellent at one or the other, but not many are great at both.
Depending on the brand you choose, you can have high quality aspects of both without compromising on either of those features. However, the price could be the biggest influence in your decision.
The real reason sailors want to incorporate both is that you can be a little more active in nature and still have a great sailing experience. When the wind dies down and sailing is not as attractive, you could opt for rowing instead.
If you have multiple people on board, this can create an excellent bonding experience for families and friends. You are likely going to need everyone’s help at some point on board, so turning this into a friendly experience is great.
While some sailing rowboats are smaller in size, there are a handful that can accommodate a few people to sleep in. Depending on your traveling situations and location, you could travel in these for days if you plan your routes accordingly.
How to Find the Perfect Sailing Rowboat
Before taking a loan or having your money ready to buy a boat, you first need to understand your desired use of a sailing rowboat. You need to know where and how you will use it.
A combination of many things will affect the process of your decision. This boils down to your main sailing purpose, how often you intend to row or sail, the passenger loads, and if you intend to sleep on it.
If you plan on sailing roughly 65 percent of the time and rowing for about 35, then a Norseboat or Jimmy Skiff II is ideal. If you primarily want to row but like the added feature of a sail, then sticking with a Northeaster dory, Eastport Nesting Pram, or Skerry might be right for you.
Some sailing rowboats might incorporate a motor, whether it is to be used for safety or speed. Regardless of how you use it, it could affect the overall performance of the boat.
Price ranges might be one of the biggest factors in some sailors getting their hands on certain brands. While expensive does not necessarily mean the best, there are quality options to consider when looking for the best sailing rowboat, such as comfort and luxury.
The dinghies or smaller sailing rowboats are going to be the cheapest options. If you can build them yourself, you can actually save a few thousand dollars.
Sailing experience is another thing to keep in mind before jumping into a boat like the Norseboat 21.5. If you have little to no experience, you might want to consider a smaller boat or something a little easier to operate.
Should You Build or Buy Completed?
There is nothing wrong with choosing a smaller, cheaper dinghy to get things started. This way you can learn the basics of sailing and understand how to use the sail but also incorporate rowing without breaking the bank.
If you want to save money, one of the best things you can do is order the build kits online and construct them yourself. They have building plans that you can follow and some only take roughly a week to put together depending on the size.
Building your own sailing rowboat from a kit can be a lifelong rewarding experience. As long as you have a basic understanding of common tools and can follow instructions, you can put together these boats.
If you like a specific brand but do not want to order their kit, most will have their build available for purchase. Just keep in mind that you will have to source all of the materials yourself and it could potentially take longer to find everything you need.
With that being said, you are likely limited to what size you can put together yourself. Unless you are more experienced in building boats, you might not be able to put together some of the bigger sailing rowboats.
Whichever method you choose, the biggest difference between buying or building is time. Of course the money is a large factor, but time building could be several weeks if you are dealing with a complicated build.
