Marquette Coastal Rowing

Marquette Coastal Rowing Fixed seat rowing in the Cornish Pilot Gig named LARK, and the St. Ayles Skiff named SPARK. Join us!

Lark, the 32' Cornish Pilot Gig, has its roots in the Scilly Isles, 40 miles off of the coast of Cornwall, England. It is recognized as one of the first shore-based lifeboats that went to vessels in distress with recorded rescues going back as far as the late 17th century. The boats were also used to transport the local pilot to incoming sailing vessels and needed to be both fast and seaworthy as

the first boat to reach the ship offshore got the job of guiding the vessel through the treacherous shoals in that area. This design is actively raced in Europe and the United States today and has been adopted by many youth and adult rowing programs. The Marquette Longboat Project built the 32-foot Pilot Gig and crafted its oars in Marquette, Michigan, through the means of a dedicated group of volunteers. Because a 32' wood boat wasn't enough, another group of relentless volunteers assembled a 22' St. Ayles skiff, which was a kit gifted to Marquette by Hands On Deck in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A handful of humans, some without any woodworking let alone boat building experience, met one night a week to craft the Scottish clinker style skiff and hand carve her oars. One year to the day, we went from piles of wood to rowing her in a storm with waves coming over the breakwall at Marquette's Lower Harbor. Spark is her name and her lineage is the small, lightweight fishing vessels of the North Sea. The volunteers gifted her to the Superior Watershed Partnership for citizen science use. Spark was presented at the Watershed's 20th Anniversary with esteemed guest, Dr. David Suzuki.

06/15/2026

We will not be meeting this evening due to yacht club seawall construction and other commitments. Hope to get back on some maintenance work next Monday at 6pm!

06/08/2026

We are planning on meeting Monday at 6pm. We will not be rowing due to the shoreline work but we will be working on the boats. Feel free to join us for some social time and lend a hand towards keeping our little fleet afloat!

6-8pm as usual!

What are you doing Monday night at 6pm?
05/28/2026

What are you doing Monday night at 6pm?

Stunning evening light. Come join us next Monday and enjoy the view.
05/26/2026

Stunning evening light. Come join us next Monday and enjoy the view.

The hardy group of four took Spark out despite the skies opening up as we launched her. Fully determined, we pushed on —...
05/25/2026

The hardy group of four took Spark out despite the skies opening up as we launched her. Fully determined, we pushed on — and look how beautifully the evening turned out!

We’re following radar and hoping we will be clear of storms for 6pm.
05/25/2026

We’re following radar and hoping we will be clear of storms for 6pm.

Short, foggy, but mysteriously beautiful row last night. Most of our normal crew is out of town next Monday. We can stil...
05/19/2026

Short, foggy, but mysteriously beautiful row last night. Most of our normal crew is out of town next Monday. We can still plan to meet - weather dependent - and ask if you’re experienced with our rowing, the launch and take out, please come join us with your talent and muscle.

05/18/2026

No cat feet with that fog tonight. It was rollin’ while we were rowin’ so a short night for the season opener.

We’ll be hanging these in a few select spots, but posting here too so you’ll know when you’ve found us!
05/17/2026

We’ll be hanging these in a few select spots, but posting here too so you’ll know when you’ve found us!

Spark and Lark have arrived at their summer home.
05/17/2026

Spark and Lark have arrived at their summer home.

Address

201 Main Street
Marquette, MI
49855

Telephone

+19063614897

Website

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