Whitehall Spirit Solo 14, a Multi-Function Slide Seat Row Boat

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Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:43:32 -0700

My Sulis

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:18:00 -0700

Hi Andrea,

I’m calling my Solo 14 My Sulis.

Sulis is a Celtic Sun Goddess who oversees bodies of water associated with healing.

Her guidance is to "spend time near water, such as a lake, river or the ocean to recharge your batteries."

She says... "water can wash away saddness, pain and the ill effects of suffering. Engage in purification rituals involving water more often, and you'll experience an uplifting in your spirit and outlook."

I'm hoping rowing her will do that for me and everyone who gets to play with her. That's were the “my” comes in, whoever calls her that and is rowing/or riding will hopefully be getting the benifit that she brings!! Cheezy eh? My kids and husband LOVE it, though they are not so excited about the rowing part...YET!!

Kyra

Hi Andrea,

Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE MY NEW BOAT!!!!!

And luckily (though I knew he would) so does my husband!

We had to wait two weeks to get her on the lake for the ice to melt but then the weather turned to 46 degrees and we got her out a few times before it started to snow!?! It has been a crazy spring but at least the lake hasn't frozen over again and the warm weather will soon be here. Our dock arrives 2nd week of June

I really love that fact that you can continue to work on your form and that rowing can really be an ongoing learning experience. At least it will be for me for a long while.

My kids also love going for rides but they do get cold and are also looking forward to the warmer weather.

Thanks again,
Kyra

Nimbles Cove

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:44:00 -0800

Nimble's Cove

Our Whitehall Spirit Solo 14 sits at the foot of our backyard on a private and sheltered pebble beach that we affectionately call Nimble's Cove. My family spends quite a bit of time on this little beach; it can really be considered an extension of our living room. It is a comfortable place to chat about whatever is on the mind or just to sit and listen.

Rowing has changed my life. My nautical background has more to do with sailing and scuba diving than rowing but in the last year or so I have been turned on to slide seat rowing in a big, big way. I wanted to let people know first hand about the different ways that rowing benefits not only the physical health of the body, but allows space and mental freedom from stress and worry that tend to plague even the seemingly carefree… Nothing compares to the sound of the water tickling the hull as I speed along or the sense of strength and power I feel in my muscles as I row against the tide. As one of our customers has said… "Rowing is the only exercise I like!" I agree 100%! I have always been physically active and not had to consider an exercise regime until now… hello 40!

What surprised me most is how "in the present" I am when I am sitting aboard Nimble. Whether I am alone, with my kids or friends, I am there and that is all that matters. Every time I go out it is different. I see something new, I learn something new about my technique and how to improve, I notice things that aren't noticeable as easily while in a car or on a bike. I feel good!

While there are many books about slide seat rowing to choose from and tons of great advice available online and through professional coaching, I thought I would share the big tips that have come in handy for my own rowing.

Tip 1: Have fun. The boat (if you have a boat from Whitehall Rowing and Sail) will not sink and will never break down on you. Let yourself get used to being in the boat and practice basic boat handling skills such as docking or coming in and out off a beach, changing direction. Who cares if you're not great at it at first… you have the rest of your life to practice. Enjoy what's happening around you… what you see, feel and hear. It will only be that way once.

Tip 2: You can steer with your legs! Yes, you can steer with your legs! Instead of using just your arms and back to pull harder on one side than the other to steer, use those legs! Push harder against the foot stop with one leg than the other and you will save your arms and move your boat in the direction you choose.

Tip 3: Slow is smooth… smooth is fast. Fast, jerky movements will slow you down and tire you out faster. Enjoy the glide… my friend and rowing coach, Carol, gave me great advice. She says, "Take an extra half a second before dropping your oars in the water before starting the drive (when you start pulling with the oars in the water). Do so with your feet, oars and mind at the same time…. WOW I never knew until then that this boat had an overdrive! Sometimes less is more!

“Row with the flow”

Invest in yourself! Stay in top form from rowing!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:57:00 -0800

Invest in yourself! Stay in top form by rowing!

We all know the routine, when the plane you’re on starts to sputter and the oxygen mask drops down your instructions are to don your mask first before helping anyone else with theirs. Rowing can be a little like this. If we don’t take care of ourselves first by giving ourselves what we need in order to be as fit, clear, strong, calm and collected as possible how can we be there for those that need us most in times of change and challenge such as this?

Getting out rowing regularly does amazing things for people. Here are some quotes from a few of the letters and messages that have come in over the past couple of months.

“Another great thing about the boat is getting a great workout. It is great to get out on the water for the day and enjoy yourself while you exercise.”
“I’ve never been more physically fit since I started rowing the Solo 14.”
“I am loving my new boat—it’s awesome. I can row it in Port Townsend Bay when I wouldn’t dream of taking out a sculling single”
“ I have been in the boat almost every day. It took me a few trips to get my technique down, but I’m having a great time in the boat. It is the only exercise I like!”
“I logged a total of about 40 miles during my vacation and covered some beautiful territory – it was a highlight. It is a lovely boat - fast, good looking, light. Even the lobstermen were intrigued by it.”
“I haven’t weighed as little since I was 17 years old, thanks to rowing my slide seat Whitehall Spirit 14 every morning and with some credit due to my new younger girlfriend.”

So if you feel that a Whitehall Spirit™ model will change your life for the better here’s our Seasonal Special Offer: Boat Orders placed before December 15th will receive a complimentary oar package. You can also ask for a framed photo of the boat to go under your Christmas tree if you like and take delivery of the boat whenever it best suits you. Call for more details and book your boat delivery for now or in the spring!

New Solo Website!
Check out the completely new website format including love letters from owners of the Solo 14. http://www.whitehallsolo.com/

Contest – Last chance to enter now!
We’ve some stunning submissions on the “Why Rowing Makes Sense To Me” themed contest and there’s still time to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and send your contribution in 150 words or less by November 30th.
Cartoons or photos are great too. Prizes offered! Full details in the September newsletter.

In this issue we introduce ‘Nimble's Cove’, an open platform for those who wish to express their views on rowing and sailing and the things they experience while they are out on the water. Feel free to send your own thoughts, photos, and words of wisdom to andrea@whitehallrow.com . She’s looking forward to hearing from you.

Andrea Guyon andrea@whitehallrow.com

A Solo 14 in My Backyard!

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:53:00 -0700

By Andrea Guyon

I am a pretty lucky girl these days and I thought I would share my joy with all you Whitehall fans out there.

Since May, my family and I have been living in a waterfront townhouse on the upper Gorge Waterway known as Portage Inlet here in Victoria. It's a 10-minute bike ride for me to get to work and my two children go to school 2 blocks from the Whitehall manufacturing facilities and corporate office. I work at Whitehall doing sales. I might have spoken with you! Soon after moving in, Marie Hutchinson and Harold Aune offered one of the first Solo 14s ever made for myself and my family to use and let me say this… that slide seat stays warm as the boat gets so much use!

Sage, my 12 year old son, took sculling lessons through his school last spring. He is the smoothest at coming in and out of the private pebble beach where we keep the boat, at the foot of our back yard. He and his 6 year old sister Kestrel, are out in the boat most days rowing around, exploring the waterway and getting to the playgrounds along the Gorge Inlet that are accessible by water. They take their lifejackets, water, snacks and walkie-talkie and off they go. I love to watch them and the neighbor's kids out enjoying their summer on the water. Kestrel is keen on learning to row, but for now she enjoys being the "bow" singer…. row… row… row… your boat… (As a round if others will join in).

I row most mornings with my new friend Carol who has been rowing shells for over twelve years and is a great coach. Carol flagged me down as I was rowing by and we have been friends ever since. She introduced me to a few other women in my "waterhood" that row regularly so it's fun for me to buzz her dock and yell for her to "come out and play?" We are out there in all sorts of boats… kayaks, canoes, rowboats and shells… too much fun!

Another great thing about living next to the water, in an urban setting, and having a practical boat like the Solo 14 is the ability to incorporate the boat into everyday things such as getting groceries and videos and whatever else we may need as well as visiting friends along the way. Instead of jumping in the car, we can jump in the boat, and tie up while we do our shopping about a mile from our place. It's fun, the kids love it and everyone stays in great shape. I also love to row in the evenings to unwind. My husband, Herve, enjoys being out on the water and also loves what rowing is doing for my mind and body (booty!).

We keep our boat right on the beach on some boat skidway trax secured with an anchor plate/bungee system and a Python cable lock so "Nimble" is always ready to go! I only hope that those of you who own a boat like this one are having as much fun as we are.

If you are considering a boat for yourself or your family I am even more excited and ready to go over the details after the last few months of having fun with our Solo 14. By the way, we named her “Nimble” because she’s fast and so easy to maneuver.

"Row with the flow" And give me a call at the office!

Andrea Guyon
International Sales and Marketing

More Happy New Solo Owners

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:59:00 -0700

We are getting very positive feedback from many boat owners regarding how happy they are that the current high cost of gasoline has not affected their boating pleasure in the least and that many of the waterways they go out on are getting quieter and even more enjoyable.
This spring we have sent new boats to owners who mentioned that they were specifically getting rowing boats because it just made more sense.
Welcome to the common sense club! Fresh air, quiet water sounds, stress relief, the best in fitness benefits, gorgeous boat, could become a trend!

Rita Nelson, her husband Craig and their two dogs all love their new Solo 14 shown here plying the waters of Rubicon Bay on Lake Tahoe California. Sometimes both dogs come along for the ride. Craig says they don’t know why they waited so long to get their boat because now they row every day.

We're on a mission to save lives

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 18:01:00 -0700

We’re on a mission. Rowing a Whitehall could save your life so that’s why we are clocking over 10,000 miles this Winter attending high-profile boat shows from San Diego to Chicago and Seattle.

People are realizing more than ever the benefits of rowing and also sailing these classic designs. Our boats never go out of style, are built to last generations, don’t make noise or stink and pollute the environment and – bonus! they make and keep you fit. That’s a wise investment.

Give us a call if you intend to order your boat for later this year because spring is coming we are booking up faster than usual.

If you’ve already got one – congratulations! You made the right decision. And you already know we stand behind everything we do

CHILLY CITY BUT WARM RECEPTION!

As luck would have it Wilf Lewis and Nick Brech arrived in Chicago January 15 for five of the coldest days of the year! 30 mile an hour winds and a temperature of minus 27. I joined them on day two and crossing the street was like stepping into a blast chiller freezer.

Inside McCormick Place it was nice and toasty. Although this was pretty much a powerboat show there was a huge amount of interest in the Whitehall Spirit Classic 14 and the Solo 14 we had on display. The highlight of being in Chicago for me was catching Buddy Guy playing live at his own club on the south side.

ACRES OF BOATS AT SEATTLE BOAT SHOW

On January 23 we were in Seattle setting up at Quest Field. The Seattle Boat Show is the largest on the West Coast. There are acres of boats and marine products of all kinds. Most of the Whitehall crew was there to spread the gospel for part of this ten day show. We had two classic Whitehall Spirits, a Westcoast and a number of Solo 14s which sparked conversation and intrigued new customers. Response was overwhelming and we loved every minute of it.

WHITEHALL HULL DEFEATS BODYBUILDER’S ATTACK

Call us crazy! In the Solo 14 display we had a partial hull set up, along with a hammer and a baseball bat that people could use to whack on it showing how extraordinarily tough the thermoformed copolymer is.

After 10 days of being smacked and pounded there was not a trace of any damage. At one point a huge fellow came up to the hull sample and boasted to Sales Manager Andrea Guyon, “I can break that.”

He pranced around explaining how he had a fast and powerful blow. Flexing his muscles he then walloped the hull with all his might.

The bat bounced off the unscathed copolymer and he looked at it in disbelief muttering, “That’s strong s**t.” Andrea shouted gleefully “Whitehall wins!” Everyone laughed. This bothered the fellow a bit so he moved to the side took careful aim and dealt repeated mighty blows. Again the bat bounced harmlessly off. He said, “That’s really strong s**t!” and finally left.

Another fellow came up and said, “I’m a Canadian and even though we have all that health care I’m thinking it’s time to get into some preventative health measures. This boat looks like it would do nicely.” I told him I could not agree more and mentioned to him the book “Younger Next Year” by Dr. Henry S. Lodge. He states that two hours of slide seat rowing a week will keep you at 50 until your 80.

I do just that more or less so check me out in twenty years – so far so good!

We met well over a thousand really nice folks, a few who already own a Whitehall boat but mostly folks who had heard of our reputation, and made a special trip to cast their eyes and run their hands over these impeccable boats for the first time.

One of the Solo 14’s was featured as a prize and at the end of the show Andrea and two show personnel drew out the name of the lucky winner who was Shannon McGregor on Lake Union. We plan to feature him in the next newsletter.

WHITEHALL ROWING AND SAIL IN CALGARY BOAT SHOW

The next show we are attending is in Calgary (from the 14th to the 17th of February. It’s the first time we’ve done a show there and Wilf Lewis will be on hand with Andrea Guyon and myself standing by to take orders or answer any technical questions.

MOTTO FOR 2008:
LET US BUILD YOUR VERY OWN WHITEHALL MASTERPIECE

With our nice new boat building facility in Victoria getting more and more organized we are primed and ready to build your very own masterpiece. As I said at the beginning of this newsletter– just give us a call.