Our Story
Mission
The mission of Village Community Boathouse (VCB) is to improve public access to our urban waterways and to introduce the public, especially young people, to the joys of rowing in New York Harbor; to revive the arts of small boat seamanship and boatbuilding; to advance the environmental stewardship of the estuary; and to foster a tradition of maritime hospitality and fellowship.
History
The Village Community Boathouse was founded in 2008 as an offshoot of a unique boating organization called Floating the Apple, founded in 1992 by a charismatic archeologist-turned-advocate named Mike Davis. His big idea was that the harbor was public space—our biggest Commons—and that each of the city's waterfront neighborhoods should be home to a community boathouse where residents could come together to row in the summer and fall, and to build boats in the winter.
Davis enlisted a naval architect to design a “Whitehall gig”—a four-oared version of the elegant Whitehall rowboat that first appeared in New York Harbor in the early 19th century–and recruited a series of gifted boatbuilders to work with adult volunteers and high school students to build Floating the Apple’s initial fleet.
The Floating the Apple gigs were initially housed in shipping containers on Pier 84, at the end of West 42nd Street, but in 1997 the group was offered a vacant space on the south side of Pier 40, at the end of West Houston Street. In 1998, the Hudson River Park Act created the park and the Hudson River Park Trust, with the mission to promote, encourage, and expand public access to the Hudson River and to promote natural, cultural, and historic aspects of the river.
In 2008, when Floating the Apple moved back to a new boathouse on Pier 84, a contingent of downtown rowers who wanted to continue operations at Pier 40 formed a separate non-profit, the Village Community Boathouse. VCB has since accumulated a fleet of more than 30 wooden boats, most of which were built in the shop on Pier 40 or by our school partners under a succession of master boatbuilders. The workhorse of the fleet remains the Whitehall gig, but there are also dories, sculling boats, traditional Whitehall rowboats, canoes, and even an umiak—an Inuit “skin boat” made of fabric stretched over a lashed-together frame. When the boathouse gets too crowded, VCB donates its boats to sister organizations.
From the beginning VCB has been dedicated to free community rowing and to youth rowing programs for local high schools and colleges including Stuyvesant High School, the New York Harbor School, and others. We send youth and adult teams to regattas and rowing events in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine, and host a regatta of our own—the VCB Youth Races—every November. In a typical year, we send our boats out on more than 500 cruises, for a total of more than 2500 “rower days” per season.
We offer year-round community boatbuilding sessions two days a week. As with our community rowing program, all are welcome and no experience is necessary.
In addition to its Pier 40 operation, VCB runs a satellite program in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and has run free programs in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Village Community Boathouse is an all-volunteer, donation-based nonprofit organization. We are proud of our commitment to the idea of a harbor that is fully accessible to the public, and believe our boats and boatbuilding program provide a physical connection to the water to all who live in, work in, or visit New York City.
FAQ
FAQ
Who should row?
We welcome anyone and everyone to enjoy our waters, whether you are a local or a visitor from afar. However, people with medical conditions such as heart ailment or chronic back issues; people unable to climb a ladder (our normal means of boarding boats); people prone to sea or motion sickness; people who cannot follow instructions. If you are unsure whether you are healthy enough to participate, check with your physician.
What should I bring?
It can be HOT out on the water, so BRING WATER! Bring a water bottle, clothing and soft-soled shoes or sandals you don’t mind getting dirty or wet, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a good attitude.
What sort of paperwork is involved?
Each rower and boatbuilder needs to sign our annual waiver, good for the calendar year. So only sign it once a year. Participants under 18 must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Minor participants who are not members of VCB’s youth programming must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
What should I do/know before I get in the boat?
At each rowing session, we will hold a safety orientation for all new rowers. You should select a life jacket from our rack that fits comfortably; learn how to connect your oar to the thole pins, or dowels, that we use instead of oarlocks; understand how to use the ladder (two hands at all times) and how to step into the boat (step on the seats and floorboards only, not on the gunwale); and appreciate the importance of following commands from your coxswain.
How long are the trips?
That depends on the tide, weather and wind conditions, and the ability and desire of your fellow rowers. Weekday rows typically last an hour or so. Sunday rows often last all afternoon, from 2 to 4 hours depending on weather and tides. Rest assured that this will not be hours of continuous rowing—we take breaks regularly.
Do you race these boats?
We send youth and adult crews to several open water regattas in New England each year. We host a free youth race each November that attracts crews from youth rowing programs throughout the Northeast.
How much does it cost?
We do not charge a fee, but we do encourage donations. You can make them online in the Donate page, or by sending a check to Village Community Boathouse, Pier 40, 353 West Street, New York, NY 10014. There is also a donation barrel inside the boathouse. Your contribution supports our free public rowing and boatbuilding programs.
How can I volunteer?
Once you are a proficient rower, you can learn to become a certified coxswain (We offer a day-long introductory course twice a season, and further training thereafter), and work with our many school groups; you can volunteer in the boathouse as a boat repair specialist or boatbuilder; you can fundraise or attend community meetings on our behalf; and you can help us plan and run special events and voyages.
Groups
Community rowing is intended for individuals and families, and small groups of friends. If your group is larger, contact us to schedule group outings for team-building purposes or just for pleasure. Special rows can include a row to the Statue of Liberty or a Row Around Manhattan, as well as shorter excursions. For more information email info@vcb.nyc.
Documents
Printable 2024 Waiver form.
Click here for the online 2024 Waiver (preferred). The waiver only needs to be signed once a year.
Annual Row Around Manhattan
Every year Village Community Boathouse mobilizes its fleet of traditional wooden rowing craft for a circumnavigation of Manhattan. This challenging and incredibly scenic 30-mile voyage begins at dawn at our boathouse on the south side of Pier 40, circles Manhattan on the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers in a counter-clockwise direction, and ends back at Pier 40 at the end of the day. Nonmembers are welcome to participate provided they have sufficient rowing experience and join us for at least three practice rows before the event. For more information on this year’s Row Around Manhattan (RAM) email info@vcb.nyc.
Village Community Boathouse Gallery
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