Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Sailing Rowboat

The Whitehall Spirit® 14 Sailing model is very fast as it slips lightly across the water. The standing lug rig has the appearance of a classic gaff rigger sailboat but is much simpler and easy to handle. Sailing this boat delights both the experienced sailor and the beginner. Great for learning to sail or introducing the grandkids to one of the most pleasurable activities known. And if the wind drops one can simply lower the sails, put out the oars and row smoothly home easily maintaining 3 to 5 knots. Having the wind drop is something that is now an enjoyable experience as this boat rows extremely well. It is seaworthy and suited for sailing or rowing whether on the ocean, lake, or river.

Under sail it handles crisply due to the large kick-up rudder and efficient rig. The solid bronze pivoting centreboard can be raised up completely into its fibreglass well, reducing the draft to only 6” (16cm). This boat can tuck nicely into quiet, unexplored spots adding another dimension to the adventure of small boat sailing. It is fully beachable to enable going ashore and exploring. It rows like a dream, gliding along in calm water, right at home in wind and waves either with traditional oars or when fitted with slide seat sculling gear.

The mainsail on the standing lug rig can be tacked with full control It can also be reefed or lowered completely while out on the water to enable rowing useful if the wind drops completely meaning you can row home using your traditional oars.

This sailing rowing boat is custom made by our master craftsmen in our shop in Victoria, BC, Canada. It is a sailing boat built to last 100 years or longer, providing rowing pleasure for generations of rowers. Our commitment to highest quality plus superior design makes this the best boat of its type in the marketplace. It is CE certified and both Canadian and US Coast Guard approved. Built-in buoyancy makes it virtually unsinkable. A factory option of a stainless steel keel strip is available or a custom name on the transom.

As with all our models, this boat is right at home on the deck of a yacht, at the cabin, parked on a dock, or on a trailer in the garage. If stored outside perhaps on a trailer, and exposed to weather, Lexan battens and a fitted Sunbrella cover are recommended. If tying to a dock is part of the plan, consider adding a set of tie-up lines and fenders to your order.

A Factory Optional Slide Seat Sculling Unit can be mounted in position over top of the centreboard well complete with hinged bronze outriggers for use with 9’6″ open-water sculling oars. Note that it is not practical to use the slide seat sculling gear while in sailing mode. The conversion to slide seat sculling mode takes only minutes. See the Whitehall Spirit® Slide Seat Sculling Model for more details.

This boat is set up for standard 9’6” (288cm) sculling oars. We stock and can supply Club Style carbon fiber sculling oars that can be shipped along with your 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® sailboat 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. This sailing model also includes a pivoting solid bronze centerboard, kick-up rudder, Spruce mast, boom and lug, mainsail, jib, sailing gear with sheets, halyards and blocks ready to go rowing or sailing.

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®.

All the features are standard except for an optional teak floor or the ocean tender fully buoyant floor system the last of which 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 also self-bail. Other factory options include a stainless-steel keel strip or a custom name. Check out the sailing options on the sailing gear accessories page.

Purchasers often require explanations or further information. We are happy to offer our assistance either by a voice phone call or by email. Please also call or email to get a quote for a Classic Whitehall Spirit® and accessories delivered to your driveway or cottage anywhere in southern Canada, the mainland USA, or shipped elsewhere. We offer certified custom crating for offshore boat orders and have shipped worldwide for over 30 years. At present there are thousands of Whitehall Spirit® boat owners 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.