The Whitehall Pulling Boat was developed at the Whitehall Boatyard in New York City in the early 19th century. It is a refinement of earlier styles of boats dating back to the Elizabethan times. It quickly caught on and became the most common style of boat in the 19th century. Since it is a rowboat (pulling boat), it stopped being as popular as a working boat after steam launches became common but it continued for some time as a gentleman's rowboat.
Despite its popularity, there are only a handful of them left from the 19th century. Mystic Seaport has two and mine is based on those. I know of one in New York and another in Alexandria.
The Whitehall started out as a harbor boat. It is designed to be fast so that it could be the first boat to get to newly arrived ships. That way they could charge a premium for ferrying important mail and passengers to shore.
Whitehalls are long and narrow with a straight prow that cuts through waves. It is fast and goes in a straight line without any trouble. Mine is not as fast as a racing skull but it easily overtakes other rowboats, both smaller and larger ones. I've never raced a modern sailboat but my impression when sailing is that I am usually overtaking modern boats.
A traditional Whitehall has cedar planks over oak ribs. In addition, mine has cherry seats, apple knees, and teak flooring. Modern ones are often fiberglass with teak seats and flooring. Many Whitehalls have lapstrake (overlapping) planks but mine are carvel (smooth).
They are usually 14-17 feet long. Mine is 17. Mine has three rowing stations. When it is just me rowing, I take the center one. When two of us row, we take the first and third stations. Sometime I will try it with three sets of oars, just to see how fast we can go. I have a sliding-seat for rowing that fits on top of the benches. I tried it once and it makes rowing very easy. The leather foot loops on it are old and need replacing before I use it again.
I've seen complaints about turning Whitehalls. I've never had a problem but when I have to turn sharply I do it with the oars, pulling on one while pushing with the other. Not everyone knows how to do this.
Tacking with a Whitehall is difficult. It needs some extra help. A couple of strokes with a paddle is enough.
Not all Whitehalls are set up for sailing but all of the modern makers seem to offer a sailing option. As I said, mine is quite fast under sail.
Mine is sprit-rigged. This means that the mast is relatively short - around 14-15 feet. The sail is four sided with a short edge on the top. A pole called a sprit goes from the mast to the outer corner of the sail at an angle. The rope that ties the sprit to the mast is called a "snotter". Not all sprit-rigged boats have a boom but mine does. Mine also has a jib - the triangular sail in front of the mast.
Setting up for sailing is easy. The mast fits through a hole in the seat into a socket (you can see this in the picture at the top of the blog). One person can do it although it helps if a second person lines it up with the socket. The sail is permanently laced onto the mast and the boom. I can have it ready to sail in ten minutes.
Sprit rigged boats are supposed to be the easiest rig to sail. Mine is certainly easy (except for tacking which takes a paddle).
Whitehalls have the reputation of being one of the most graceful boats ever made. Between its lines and the fine workmanship that went into it and the exposed wood on the interior, it is a lovely boat.
An original Whitehall at Mystic Seaport
