Introduction to Champlain Longboats

Learn about the history of our iconic pilot gigs and how they are built! Open to all experience levels, beginner to expert, this 2-hour experience gives you the opportunity to tour the Museum, learn how our wooden rowing gigs are built, and get into a boat to learn how to row (or practice your skills)!

You will have the option to go out on the lake and row if there are 4-6 people registered for the day. If there are 3 or fewer people registered, you will still have the opportunity to get into a boat and learn the rowing stroke, but we will stay docked due to the minimum number of participants needed to safely operate the boat on the water. Participants must be 10 or older to row, but younger children are welcome to come along as passengers.

Be sure to bring clothing that can get wet, as well as water to stay hydrated. We will provide longboats, oars, and personal flotation devices (PFDs). We also recommend you bring a hat and sunscreen to stay protected from the sun. This program is weather-dependent, and we will communicate cancellations on the morning of the scheduled outing.

Accessibility: The boats are stable and do not flip, but are wobbly to enter and exit, so a good sense of bodily balance is helpful. There is an 18-inch step down from the dock into the boat. The boats are stationed at the waterfront in North Harbor, accessible by a moderately steep gravel path that leads to an ADA accessible dock. For accommodations or questions, please contact us at onwater@lcmm.org.