The Deep Cove Rowing Club has an ongoing need to update and replace both our coach/safety equipment (boats and motors) and rowing shells.
The Boston Whaler coach/safety boat gets a lot of use. The 60 HP outboard motors typically last for 3 - 4 years, by which time we have eked out double the industry average expected hours of operation. The current motor is approaching 4 years and is showing signs of needing replacement.
Our inflatable coach/safety boats with PVC tubes have typically lasted 10 years, twice the warrantied life span of 5 years. Our newest inflatable coach/safety boats have Hypalon tubes and a warrantied life span of 10 years. We are hoping that they will last substantially longer. At this time, our one remaining inflatable coach/safety boat with a PVC tube is 7 years old, is leaking in a difficult to patch location and is showing substantial signs of age. It will probably have to be replaced either this year or next year. We must keep this third coach/safety boat functional in order to fulfill our obligations to the Deep Cove Yacht Club's sailing program and maintain our ability to moor coach/safety boats on their docks.
We have some older rowing shells (Seymour & Cates) that are heavily used but are 20 years old. We do a good job of repairing them, and we can get them repainted to improve their appearance, but from a structural perspective, they too have a limited remaining life span. Our rowing academy is growing and we desperately need a newer quad that is lighter and more suitable for smaller youth. Also on our wish list is a coastal single, which would really help learn to row students and give those experienced rowers who wish to race coastal singles the change to practice with one.
We have an ongoing fundraising campaign to help us buy new or gently used equipment. If anybody would like to support this effort, we would greatly appreciate it. You can donate via credit card through the BC Amateur Sport Fund. A donation of $20 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt.
If you have any questions or suggestions, would like more information or you would rather write a cheque or donate securities, please contact me (Wendy Moore, club president) at admin@deepcoverowingclub.com. All donations will be kept confidential, unless you wish it otherwise.
Regards,
Wendy Moore, president DCRC
On behalf of the DCRC Board of Directors