First Boat

First Boat began in 2004 to provide a different purchasing option for the rowing community.

We provide affordable, high quality racing shells for colleges, clubs and private owners who are looking to expand their fleet or begin new programs. First Boat bridges the gap between purchasing unreliable, unchecked equipment and new, more expensive racing shells.

When a shell comes into our inventory, we do a general inspection of all of the parts, the condition of the hull and the riggers. Once we begin work on a boat, we thoroughly clean the hull inside and out, and all of the riggers. Our craftsmen take apart all of the moving parts, and (while each boat is unique depending on age and condition) the hull is stripped down to it’s bare state. At this point, the shell is thoroughly inspected, and any structural repairs are completed. The hull is varnished, buffed, and cleaned again once the work is done. We decide which parts need to be replaced, scrub the parts that will be going back into the boat, and fit the new parts on the existing riggers and on the hull. The boat is reinspected to ensure that nothing has been overlooked, and given one final cleaning.