Whitehall rowboat

It strongly resembles a sailing ship's gig or a Thames river wherry used by watermen as a taxi service.

The hull shape is characterized by a nearly straight stem, and slight flare to the bow, rounded sides, with a keel running the entire length of the bottom and a distinctive wine glass transom with a full skeg.

A beginning rower finds it easier to row this design in a straight line because of the tracking type keel.

The Village Community Boathouse in New York City has dedicated its boatbuilding program[1] to almost exclusively building and restoring wooden Whitehall Gigs.

They have built dozens over the last decade, most of which are available for free public use at their boathouse[2] on Pier 40 while others have been loaned or donated to sister organizations.