22'6" Recreational Shell Kingfisher
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Join to view PDF Purchase 22'6" Kingfisher Shell PlansThose who know the sport of rowing know Graeme King to be one of the world’s top designers and builders of wooden racing shells. The rowing shells that come out of his King Boat Works are built not only to stand the test of time, but have also put their crews and designer in the record books. The Harvard and Navy crews, as well as other outstanding crews, use King-designed boats. Kingfisher Particulars
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Great boat designed by a true craftsman and nice guy. I built a Kingfisher and enjoyed rowing it back in the 1980-1990s. Later, I visited Graham at his Vermont workshop, where I gave him some samples I made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. In return, he gave me blueprints for a racing single sized to me. Your article was nostalgic for me. I am not sure, but the King Boat Works may not be operating. Check it out before buying plans from Wooden Boat or anyone else. The custom made-metal parts, outriggers, may not be available and are not the size of other commercially available boats. You can probably find parts for the sliding seat, rails, and oarlocks from other suppliers.
I rebuilt an old Kingfisher with Graeme King’s help, and also have built three of his strip-built racing and recreational shells. No, I don’t think he is around anymore. He retired and planned to move back to his native Australia, selling his shop in Putney, Vermont. Making the seat and foot stretcher for a Kingfisher should be no problem. It is straightforward work, and special parts including the sliding seat and tracks can be purchased ready made. Wintech is one place that sells them. The riggers call for custom work by a welding shop and will cost more than Graeme charged (skilled in machine shop work, he made riggers for me in powder-coated stainless, and they are different for each of my King boats). The key thing is to get the angle correct where the rigger attaches to the topsides of the hull. That determines the height of the oarlocks above the water, and that is all important. Oarlocks are stock items. I bought from Concept 2.