Jim,

My boat's name was the "Blakeley", and was built pre - 1965, maybe even earlier. One old gent who worked for Pocock in the 50's said it was built earlier than his time with the company. It is a lightweight or maybe featherweight. I restored it as original, apart from updating the oarlocks. I found old style clog shoes, the seat slides on 16 little red wheels, wooden beading trims the dacron deck and it still has zero ports or hatches in the seat box.

There remain 3 Pocock singles at OSU; the "Jess", the "Mary Alice" and one other. The Jess and Mary Alice were purchased(new I believe) in the mid- 60's and donated to the program a couple years later. All three boats are in good shape, 2 have updated aluminum riggers and the Jess is still used regularly. OSU is planning to build a new boat house soon and will use these classy old boats and bunches of old oars as part of the decor.

I'm currently working on a 1982 Pocock cedar single, owned by the awsome rower, Laura Jackson. It needs a hull crack repaired and the cockpit cheeks mended. She plans to race it this summer.

Fun stuff going on down here in Oregon.

Dan Pence

I was recently given an old wooden racing shell that is probably a Pocock. It was owned by Oregon State University men's rowing team.

The boat is in bad shape, finish, decks and hardware stripped off in the late 80's then left in the boat barn cellar till I pulled it out last weds.

I don't see any identifying marks on the boat anywhere, but the riggers are similar to the ones in photos of Bob Bush's boat. In fact there are many smilarities between that 50's boat and this one I have.

When I get photos I'll send them on to you.

Dan Pence
Portland, OR

Dan,

Thanks. I'd like to see pictures of your boat. Pocock didn't start putting numbers (required by the Coast Guard) on the tail until the mid 1970's.

There is a page borrowed from Pocock about how to tell who built your shell and thereby narrow the probable date built at http://www.pocockclassic.com/pocock/woodwho.html

Pocock also suggests how to refinish a shell at http://www.pocockclassic.com/pocock/woodvarn.html and we have some pictures and suggestions at http://www.pocockclassic.com/HOH2.html about how to restore and re-deck a shell that we gathered as we restored the famous quad, the Hoh. Be sure to read Ole's remarks at http://www.pocockclassic.com/Kanestrom.html

I look forward to seeing the pictures.

Best,
Jim Buckley