October 2008 Newsletter    By Harold Aune VP

This month as we get ourselves through one of the crazier economic times that all of us have ever experienced, we are hearing from many of our customers who are working on getting their priorities straight in terms of what is important and what’s not.

People realize that our boats will be here long after this period of economic meltdown is history. And for those fortunate enough to be ready to purchase right now, call us for current pricing because the dollar rates change dramatically almost daily. In the last few days, the CAD is down and the USD is up…a great time to book your order.

The “Loveletters” keep pouring in and we’re sharing a heartfelt one here. Also for you sailing buffs, we actually do get out in the boats, and what a day it was….see below.

We’re always creating new extras for the boats and the latest is a teak mounted compass for installation on the rear floorboard footstop. It might make a good upgrade or even a Christmas present.



Also, a reminder about the contest, “Why Rowing Makes Sense To Me” for which we have been receiving some great entries. Here’s the format.

Submit your 150 max word stories with or without the following – poetry, photos, cartoons, or video footage - by November 30th, 2008 and we will send the first 10 submitters their choice of a Whitehall Ball Cap and Whitehall T Shirt or a Gel Slide Seat Rowing Cushion. Your photos, cartoons or video footage are also welcome on their own, as long as they fit our contest theme.

The official winner of the contest will be awarded a Stormy Seas Inflatable Life Vest. Your submissions may also be used in one of our upcoming Enews editions.

Dave Stith fell in love with the Whitehall Spirit line at the 2008 Seattle boat show. But to prove to himself that rowing was a pastime that he and his dog would enjoy, he decided to first purchase a Solo 14. And here are his comments.

Dear Marie, Harold, and Andrea,

              Thank you!   Thank you!  Thank you!  For designing, building, and selling such a wonderful boat.  My Solo 14 is everything that I envisioned and more.  It is a joy to use, just during the month of September alone, I’ve been out on the water around my home for 23 day trips.  We’ve had such perfect weather in September that it’s become addictive to be out rowing for hours on end.  You sure were correct about it being excellent exercise.  My usual day drips are from 7.5 to 10 miles long with my longest trip to date being 16 miles.  I really enjoy seeing the eddies from my oars as they disappear into the distance.  The boat handles absolutely great in all kinds of sea conditions and especially with my Boarder Collie, Nikki, curled up on her cushion just forward of the slide-seat or standing look-out on the bow thwart.  Her added weight (33 pounds) seems to trim the boat just right.  I’ve always kept myself fit but thanks to your boat, I’ve never been more physically fit since I started rowing the Solo 14.



          
            Thanks again for building such a fine, fine boat.  It’s been a real pleasure for me to get to know such a first rate company, the people who work there, and the wonderful boats that you build.  I’ve just about worn out my copy of the Whitehall Spirit catalogue dreaming of the day that I own a Spirit 14 or 17.
 
In New England they would use one phrase to describe your boats – FINEST KIND!

Dave Stith

Couldn’t get away too soon ….Sailing on a sunny afternoon!

One sunny day in September we were conducting an in the water test of the roller furling, light air jib system on the Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition model. It was a gorgeous afternoon as we slid the boat off the trailer and launched her into the light airs that were blowing down Bains Channel.

Colin Rolls, Whitehall’s multi-talented Production Manager, is a small boat sailing aficionado and his genius is behind many of the subtle improvements incorporated into the sailing rigs on our models.  

Conditions were absolutely perfect and we were able to capture these great shots along with some excellent video footage, soon to show up on the upcoming Expedition Model rigging demonstration video, which will be available on DVD free to all Expedition Model owners and included with this model in the future.

Click on the following pictures to view them full size.