One of the Gabriola blogs I visited today is Colin’s Rowing & Sailing Stories. Colin Masson lives on Gabriola, and he’s got the kind of boat I want: a traditional handliner. Here are Colin’s Reflections from Rowing the Bus to Work:

The best part of this rowing day was the orcas, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Most summer days I commute by rowing from Gabriola Island to the Pacific Biological Station in Departure Bay. It’s only five and a half nautical miles for a raven traveling, but more for me as the tide pushes me across the channels emptying into the Strait of Georgia from the inside waters between Gabriola and Nanaimo harbour.

My traditional 1937 handliner is named after the first owner and salmon fisherman, Bus Bailey. The Bus Bailey, a double ended carvel-planked rowboat, is well-proportioned with a well-defined and balanced sheer providing a solid sweet appearance. Like all handliners, it is ideal for long rows with supplies and fishing gear, and for hauling home the catch, or in my case, it rows well with seaworthy confidence and is able to carry my lap-top and office files enclosed in a heavy dry bag, a small safety bag and a guide bag for clothes. [continue]

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