My Story
I became interested in rowing over twenty years ago. I was sitting on a sailboat in Marblehead Harbor when a fellow in an Alden Ocean Shell rowed by. I jumped into my dingy and tried unsuccessfully to catch up to him. After finding out what I was chasing was an Alden Ocean Shell, I went to Maine and bought a Kittery Skiff kit from Arthur Martin, founder of Martin Marine Company. I built the boat and with a pair of borrowed oars I started in a sport that has changed my life. I was quickly hooked on rowing and became a believer in the future of this great sport. I went back to Arthur and asked if I could represent Alden and rowing in my area. He didn't say yes right away but made me row with him. When we returned to the boathouse he said I could represent Alden. I started with one Alden Single ( now the Alden 16) , one Oarmaster and one pair of oars. When I sold enough boats I bought two of everything, then three. That was twenty years ago and a lot of rowing lessons and miles under the "skeg". I'm still in the " old boat barn" outside Boston MA and now on the web telling people what a great sport rowing is and building Douglas Oarlocks™ and RowMasters™. -Bill Graham