FIGHTING LADY

Glassy water is pretty easy in a 1960s fiberglass Alden rowing shell, but when the afternoon southwesterly comes up the New Meadows River in West Bath, Maine, the flat bottom craft wants to surf, yaw and roll as she’s headed downwind for home, John Van Orden went searching for a more sea kindly sliding seat rig. He settled upon an 18′3″ Chesapeake Light Craft’s Expedition Wherry, which became his home shop project for the winter of 2018, as he built stitch-and-glue vessel from scratch. FIGHTING LADY launched on August 26 to community fanfare. With her V-bottom, skeg, and 3′ beam she is as fast or faster than the Alden, tends to surf in the 8″ chop, running with the wind, yet remains stable and tracks beautifully as she heads back for Shoal Cove.