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Here is a series of updates from Steven Jorgenson in Minnesota outlining his first seasons experiences with his Whitehall Spirit 17.
March 18th
"Ripple" (the name I've given my boat) arrived today around noon. I had a crew of three friends, two truck drivers, one wife, one neighbor, one World War II veteran, and myself to unload the crate. Everything went smoothly as we slid the crate off the truck into the street in front of my house. This boat is even more beautiful than the pictures in your catalog! I was impressed with how well it was crated, and how all the gear was bubble wrapped, stowed and tied down. Very ship shape.
Steven Jorgenson and friends unloading his Whitehall Spirit 17
I picked up the EZ loader trailer at 8:00 AM this morning from the local dealer, so we were able to take Ripple out of the crate and load her directly onto the trailer. Timing could not have been more perfect. Everything fell right into place.
In the next few weeks I will be busy getting some of the essentials ready that I'll need for the maiden voyage such as tie down straps, life jackets, state registration, ropes, bumpers, etc. I will write you with a report after she's launched.
March 31st
Today I put my boat in the water for the first time. It trailered beautifully. Launching and retrieving was so simple. My 10-year-old son helped me make splices for the mooring lines and anchor ropes. My 8-year-old son picked up the oars for the first time and began rowing like he'd been doing it for years. What a great crew! The thing that amazed me most is how easy the Whitehall rows. It glides so smoothly without trying to force each stroke....but you already knew that.
Steven Jorgenson and his Whitehall Spirit 17
May 28th
I hope that you are busy selling more boats to new customers, and it's not my intention to keep bothering you with news about my boat, but I'm having such a good time with it that I just had to let you know.
I think I've already exceeded the annual legal limit on fun.
It's absolutely amazing! The Whitehall is so stunningly beautiful that whenever I'm parked somewhere with my boat on the trailer, people start showing up out of nowhere to ask about it.
A few days ago I was pulling into my favorite launch ramp at the county park. I wasn't even out of my car yet when a park ranger pulled up behind me in a truck. I thought to myself: "I wonder what I did wrong now?" He got out of his truck, began walking toward me and then said: "Is that a Whitehall?"
I couldn't believe what my ears were hearing. At last a kindred spirit who recognized a
Whitehall. He drooled over that boat for almost 15 minutes, asking me all kinds of questions. It was great.
Steven Jorgenson's Whitehall Spirit 17 on his trailer.
Today I took "Ripple" 8 miles up the St. Croix to a place where it runs through a beautiful granite gorge. Eighty degrees, clear skies, almost no wind, it couldn't have been more perfect. At the launch, a man from the State of Maine, and a park ranger zeroed in on me right away and began asking the usual questions.
On my way home, I stopped in a small town along the river to visit a store. Someone followed me around town in a white sedan until I found a place to park. He pulled up behind me, got out of his car, and then began lusting after my boat. He was an older gentleman who hadn't seen a Whitehall in many, many years, and just had to have a good look at it. I gave him your card.
It's absolutely amazing! Everywhere I go people stare and say things like "Nice boat". It's hard to get launched without talking to someone about it for 15 or 20 minutes first; what a wonderful problem. Thanks again for a great boat.
November 15th
The end of the boating season has arrived, and my Whitehall is now stored in the garage until next Spring. After a wonderful summer and many hours spent on the water, I can say with confidence that the boat you people built for me has exceeded all of my expectations.
I recently re-treated all the woodwork with the oil you sent with the boat. The trim shines like new again after a summer of exposure to sun, spray, and rain. Great stuff!
One of my last trips of the season was a weeklong solo trip into Voyager's National Park on the US/Canadian border. The boat handled beautifully traveling from island to island when loaded with all my gear.
I have enclosed a few pictures taken on several different occasions this summer. I hope you enjoy them. Thanks again for building a great boat.
Steven Jorgenson and his Whitehall Spirit 17 on Eav Galle Reservior,Wisconsin.
Steven Jorgenson and his Whitehall Spirit 17 on Eav Galle Reservior,Wisconsin.
Steven Jorgenson's Whitehall Spirit 17 on Fox Island, Voyagers National Park.
{That's Canada in the back ground.}
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for Y2K!
Steve Jorgenson
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