HISTORY OF ECHO ROWING

   Echo Rowing, LLC was founded in 2003 by Ted Perry, Douglas Martin and Lorna Martin Perry.  With a long history of rowing and manufacturing behind them, having designed and manufactured boats for other companies, they felt it was time to pursue their own dream of a new, innovative recreational rowing shell.

   Doug Martin had been playing with several concepts over the years and was ready to put some down in design.  Along with Ted Perry as the owner of East/West Boats, the manufacturing would be kept close to home.  Lorna Martin Perry was enthusiastic about promoting this great new design.

   A new company was launched ~ ECHO Rowing.

Lorna Martin Perry:   One of the co-founders of Echo Rowing, Lorna Martin Perry has a long history with small boats in and around the shores of Cohasset, MA, where she spent her childhood.  The daughter of Arthur Martin, founder of Alden Rowing Shells, Lorna was present at the onset of recreational and ocean rowing in America and comes to Echo Rowing equipped with knowledge of what is involved in the appreciation of a safe, stable, enjoyable rowing experience.

Before founding Echo Rowing, Lorna enjoyed many years of teaching sailing, swimming and skiing.  A very creative person, Lorna excels in garden design and diverse arts and crafts when she is not involved with homemaking and the joys of interacting with her two daughters.

As Ambassador for Echo Rowing, Lorna spends quality time teaching sculling, setting up and attending demo days and boat shows, introducing potential rowers to this elegant sport, explaining the intricacies of an Echo Rowing Shell, making sure all questions are answered to satisfaction, and enhancing an enjoyable, purposeful experience in an Echo Rowing Shell, while giving attention to the representation and definition of Echo Rowing.

Ted Perry:   Growing up on Lake Sunapee in NH, surrounded by sailboats and winning in the Star Class through young adulthood, Ted had built his first boat by the age of 10, thereby starting a long love of fine boatbuilding.  Life took Ted and his then young family into the hotel business, ski instructing, and ski shop management before he was able to return to his first love in 1978 when he moved to Maine and resumed boatbuilding with the establishment of East/West Custom Boats.

After 25 years of hands on education building recreational rowing shells for Martin Marine, designers of Alden Ocean shells, Ted with his wife, Lorna and brother in law, Doug decided to follow their dreams of designing and manufacturing their own recreational rowing shell, thereby starting Echo Rowing.

Ted Perry brings to Echo Rowing an extensive knowledge of creating and producing the highest quality shells, constantly seeking improvements to meet customer needs and to retain the integrity and reputation of Echo Rowing.

Douglas Martin:   Doug grew up sailing and rowing on the ocean in Cohasset, MA. Under the tutelage of his father, Arthur Martin, Doug, at a very young age, started designing and building kayaks and shells.  After studying and working in sculpture and painting, Doug designed and built the first of his well over 50 boats.  Experiments with oars over a ten-year period led to three production models and the fundamental theory which underlies the design of racing oars worldwide.

Doug's lifelong love of flight culminated in flights to the clouds from foot launch.  The fluid dynamic's knowledge gained was the key ingredient in the design of the oar blades and boat hulls.  Presently he still is carrying on his 40 year love of the violin and experiments in design and construction.  A Renaissance man, Doug continually searches for new information that allows him to remain in the forefront of design.  He was recently recognized in a NY Times article about his innovative violin designs. Doug was also recognized in an article by the  Portsmouth Herald and the Foster's Daily Democrat .

Attentive to the needs and interest of customers, Doug is constantly striving to integrate new ideas and design for higher performance while always maintaining the excellence of Echo Rowing. 

Patrick DeLorge:   As the newest member of the Echo team Patrick will focus his efforts in the office on daily operations and sales working closely with the Echo team, dealers and our customers.

 "Patrick practically grew up here, he started working for me when he was only 15 years old,” said Ted Perry recalling when Patrick started at East/West Custom Boats packing Aldens.  The next 18 years were spent working with rowing shells specializing in quality control, rigging and customer service.