Connecticut River Dragboat

The Connecticut River drag or shad boat was popular in the Northeast in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. They were originally used for shad fishing, but their workhorse nature lent them to a variety of uses. They typically have a bluff bow, full sections, broad beam, and a flat plank keel.

The drag boat is a nice, stable boat that rows well. She's a beamy boat with enough displacement that you can load her up with the whole crew for a day on the island.

In 2001, I worked with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to build Mac, which serves as both a sail-training vessel and as the tender craft for the sailing schooner Lois McClure.