PORT ANGELES — Six members of the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association spent Sunday morning fixing up the organization’s boat house on Ediz Hook.
The boat house, which is rented from the city for $100 a month, was derelict and needed many repairs, Peter Becker, a member and coach for the organization, said.
So far, the association through volunteer labor and materials has replaced the floor, repaired wiring for the lights, built racks for the boats, fixed the deck and on Sunday, the group painted the floor to seal it and keep it from looking dirty.
“This building once supported log rafts,” said Jim Haguewood, executive director of the Clallam Business Incubator and member of the association.
The association, which is managed through the Clallam County Family YMCA and was founded by Port Angeles man John Halberg, has dozens of ergometers — machines that simulate the action of rowing — both at the YMCA and in the Port Angeles School District.
The program has two eight-person boats and is looking at four- and six- people boats, Haguewood said.
In the newly remodeled boat house, the group is planning a fundraiser on May 30.
The Seafood Bake from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the boat house will be $25 per person, and all the funds will go to the organization, Haguewood said.
“People can come look at the boats, and we’ll have a few in the water, even,” he said.
The group is also planning an Ergomania, in which people of all ages can “race” indoors on the machines.
The event will be at 2 p.m. on June 14.
“Last year we had about 80 kids and adults, and everyone had a really good time,” said Cindy Kelly, a Port Angeles School Board member and member of the association.
In addition, the group hopes to hold a coxswain training class — organized by Betsy Whipple, who is a renowned rower, Becker said.
The coxswain steers the boat and helps the team stay in time, he said.
The dates of the training have not been worked out, he said.
Dr. Ron Bergman said the association is as much about rowing as wellness.
“The wonderful thing about this is it is basically no impact,” he said.
“It is less about strength than being in unison.
“It is almost like a ballet.”
Anyone interested in getting involved in the association or learning how to row can phone the YMCA at 360-452-9244.
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
