About Our Craft

Nationally recognized shell restorations honoring fine craftsmanship.

Close-up of a yellow aircraft's wing with aerodynamic design features.

Our Commitment

At The Rowing Repair Center, we believe in restoring more than just boats—we restore legacies. Our mission combines deep knowledge and experience with a meticulous eye for detail. We approach each project with reverence for the boat's history and a passion for performance. From hopelessly-damaged to well-worn shells, our restorations are known for their structural integrity, flawless finishes, and aesthetic elegance. Whether returning a beloved club shell to race-ready condition or restoring a vintage heirloom, we bring a unique blend of artistry, technical expertise, and respect for the boat's legacy to every project.

With more than 40+ years of experience, Master Craftsman Tim Searles infuses every project at The Rowing Repair Center with his unique approach to each shell. We specialize in expert repair, repainting, and restoration of competitive rowing shells, dedicated to serving all rowers and teams with the highest of skill levels, professionalism, and care. 

About Tim

Tim Searles' decades of experience in fine restorations of antique furniture, historic woodwork, and vintage sail & power craft gives him an unmatched eye for detail and precision. For more than 24 years, he has focused his passion and skill on restoring rowing shells, earning a national reputation for quality and excellence.

Man in blue shirt working with tools on a project.
Red sign with the name Daniel Wolff and a small rooster graphic.
Close-up of a white car with the 'Hudson' emblem.
Close-up of a glossy blue car panel with reflective surface and studio lights.

Legacy Timeline

Wooden dresser with an oval mirror and curved edges.
Wooden vintage dresser with four drawers and round knobs.
An antique wooden pendulum clock with intricate details.
A black van parked outside on a sunny day with a sign on its window.

1978 to 1988

After college during four years of Environmental/Natural Biology work, Tim refinished his first piece of old furniture not knowing he was on his way to a 45-year path of craftsmanship with the opening of his first workshop in his native CT called The Hartford Stripper. The year was 1978.

Wooden dresser with an oval mirror and curved edges.
Wooden vintage dresser with four drawers and round knobs.
An antique wooden pendulum clock with intricate details.
A black van parked outside on a sunny day with a sign on its window.

Vintage furniture and a classic car from early 20th century.
Antique wooden chest of drawers with ornate handles and a decorative item on top.
Vintage wooden grand piano with intricate legs and matching bench.
Vintage computer setup with CRT monitor and dot matrix printer on a desk.
Intricately carved wooden chair with ornate floral and animal designs.
Intricately carved wooden chairs with leather seats arranged in a room.
A tall, ornate grandfather clock standing against a wall.
Rusty, stripped vintage car body without wheels indoors.
Vintage woody station wagon parked near a forested area.
Vintage wood-paneled station wagon parked on a city street.
A row of vintage cars parked outdoors with trees in the background.
A white cabin cruiser docked at a marina on a cloudy day.
A white boat docked on calm water with trees in the background.
A man works on a large wooden boat beside a white car in a yard.
Boat on land with wooden ladder and surrounding greenery.
The word 'VOODOO' painted on a white surface.
Boat undergoing maintenance on a stand outdoors.
A sailboat anchored near a lush, green coastline under a cloudy sky.

1989 to 1999

The Hartford Stripper evolved into Northeast Wood Restorations with antique furniture, the CT State Capitol furnishings, classic power & sail craft, woodie wagons and historic home interiors filling the workshop. Of note, was a multi-year restoration of Tim’s wood classic Sparkman & Stephens 1961 42’ Brazil/Mackinac Class racing sloop in the Virgin Islands culminating with an additional furniture workshop in the USVI concurrent with the Hartford, CT location.

Vintage furniture and a classic car from early 20th century.
Antique wooden chest of drawers with ornate handles and a decorative item on top.
Vintage wooden grand piano with intricate legs and matching bench.
Vintage computer setup with CRT monitor and dot matrix printer on a desk.
Intricately carved wooden chair with ornate floral and animal designs.
Intricately carved wooden chairs with leather seats arranged in a room.
A tall, ornate grandfather clock standing against a wall.
Rusty, stripped vintage car body without wheels indoors.
Vintage woody station wagon parked near a forested area.
Vintage wood-paneled station wagon parked on a city street.
A row of vintage cars parked outdoors with trees in the background.
A white cabin cruiser docked at a marina on a cloudy day.
A white boat docked on calm water with trees in the background.
A man works on a large wooden boat beside a white car in a yard.
Boat on land with wooden ladder and surrounding greenery.
The word 'VOODOO' painted on a white surface.
Boat undergoing maintenance on a stand outdoors.
A sailboat anchored near a lush, green coastline under a cloudy sky.

A blue SUV parked on a sunny day near a building.
Indoor rowing machines lined up in a gym or training facility.
Hot air balloon flying over a lakeside park with hills in the background.
Close-up of rust damage on a maroon vehicle door.
Rusty, scratched red metal pipe or beam on a light floor.
Close-up of a red drone or missile with markings in a hangar.
Close-up of a unique stringed musical instrument with a triangular body.
Close-up of an orange and black car roof with a circular antenna.
Four rowing shells lined up indoors on racks.
A patriotic hot air balloon with stars and stripes floats near a blue airplane.
Stacked black oars labeled 'Loyola Academy Crew' ready for rowing.

2000 to 2010

The Rowing Repair Center was established after completing the Learn to Row program at the Oak Ridge Rowing Association in Oak Ridge, TN. With limited knowledge of composite racing shells, Tim recognized a significant need for high-level craftsmanship and service within the rowing community. Together with his staff, he developed a reputation for fine workmanship and became a trusted name in the sport of rowing across the nation.

A blue SUV parked on a sunny day near a building.
Indoor rowing machines lined up in a gym or training facility.
Hot air balloon flying over a lakeside park with hills in the background.
Close-up of rust damage on a maroon vehicle door.
Rusty, scratched red metal pipe or beam on a light floor.
Close-up of a red drone or missile with markings in a hangar.
Close-up of a unique stringed musical instrument with a triangular body.
Close-up of an orange and black car roof with a circular antenna.
Four rowing shells lined up indoors on racks.
A patriotic hot air balloon with stars and stripes floats near a blue airplane.
Stacked black oars labeled 'Loyola Academy Crew' ready for rowing.

A hand using a squeegee on a yellow screen printing frame.
A shiny metallic cylindrical object with red and white packaging.
A red racing kayak with the name 'Danu Raas' placed indoors.
Close-up of a yellow triangular Empacher boat part with black fittings.
Wooden kayak cockpit and seat on a green canoe.
Close-up of a concrete surface with cracks and rust stains near metal rods.
Close-up of a white car hood with the word 'HUDSON' upside down.
A large, sleek boat hull in a workshop under construction.

2011 to 2020

During this period, The Rowing Repair Center's reputation for exemplary work and prominence in the sport grew exponentially.  

A hand using a squeegee on a yellow screen printing frame.
A shiny metallic cylindrical object with red and white packaging.
A red racing kayak with the name 'Danu Raas' placed indoors.
Close-up of a yellow triangular Empacher boat part with black fittings.
Wooden kayak cockpit and seat on a green canoe.
Close-up of a concrete surface with cracks and rust stains near metal rods.
Close-up of a white car hood with the word 'HUDSON' upside down.
A large, sleek boat hull in a workshop under construction.

Close-up of a cracked and repaired airplane wing section.
Close-up of a torn fabric revealing inner layers and stitching.
Close-up of a weathered white and blue segmented surface on concrete.
Close-up of a white kayak with 'COMPETITOR' branding on concrete ground.
Close-up of a narrow, white beam or rail with a dark strip in the middle.
Close-up of a white kayak or canoe with blue markings on a concrete surface.
Close-up of a guitar neck with frets and strings.
Close-up of a car roof with a sunroof assembly and exposed interior.
A sleek turquoise kayak with black footrests inside, displayed indoors.
Trophies and awards displayed at a rowing event booth.
Interior of a wooden boat showing structural components and fittings.
A gray metal pipe with a skull and crossbones sticker and 'El Calaveras' text.
A green reptilian eye decal on a white surface.
Close-up of a musical instrument's strings and sound hole on a yellow body.

2021 to Present

Through the pandemic and now  with 25 years of experience in shell repairs and repainting, coupled with decades of hands-on restorations, the art and craft of rowing shells is practiced daily by maintaining the high standards required to obtain perfection with each and every shell.

Close-up of a cracked and repaired airplane wing section.
Close-up of a torn fabric revealing inner layers and stitching.
Close-up of a weathered white and blue segmented surface on concrete.
Close-up of a white kayak with 'COMPETITOR' branding on concrete ground.
Close-up of a narrow, white beam or rail with a dark strip in the middle.
Close-up of a white kayak or canoe with blue markings on a concrete surface.
Close-up of a guitar neck with frets and strings.
Close-up of a car roof with a sunroof assembly and exposed interior.
A sleek turquoise kayak with black footrests inside, displayed indoors.
Trophies and awards displayed at a rowing event booth.
Interior of a wooden boat showing structural components and fittings.
A gray metal pipe with a skull and crossbones sticker and 'El Calaveras' text.
A green reptilian eye decal on a white surface.
Close-up of a musical instrument's strings and sound hole on a yellow body.

Bring Your Shell Back to Life

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