Alden Rowing
Alden Rowing manufactures sliding-seat rowing boats. Their original product, the Alden Ocean Shell, was designed in (sources differ) 1970[1] or 1971.[2] Traditional shell designs use high aspect ratio hulls, with long waterline with minimum beam, that emphasize racing performance at the cost of stability. These types of boats are only usable on flat water. Alden, however, specializes in shorter, beamier, highly stable designs which are suitable for rowing in open water, where swells are commonly encountered.[3] As of 2004, Alden had sold 25,000 shells.[4]
The original Alden Ocean Shell was designed by Arthur E. Martin. Martin had begun experimenting with fiberglass as a boat-building material in the 1960's. His first design, a 16-foot kayak, was developed in 1966. Over the next few years, he added a sliding seat and a deck to shed water; this evolved into the Alden Ocean Shell by 1970.[1] In the first year of production, 165 were sold. Martin also developed the drop-in rowing mechanism which came to be called the Oarmaster. This was a metal frame containing the sliding seat, foot stretcher, outriggers, and oarlocks.[1] The frame could be installed in many different boat designs. It isolated all the high stress loadpaths to the metal frame, allowing the boat's hull to be lighter.
External links
References
- ^ a b c "The Solitary Joys of Sculling". The New York Times. 1983-07-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ "ROWING the Heirloom Sport". The Maine Mag. 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ "Alden Rowing". Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ June 1, Steve Cartwright-; 2004 (2004-06-01). "Two Maine firms build recreational rowing shells". The Working Waterfront Archives. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
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