The Gloucester Gig Rowers Association currently has one gig, the Siren Song. Larry Dahlmer built Siren Song in 1986 in his boat yard on Rocky Neck. Her construction was commissioned by a group of women who wanted to establish gig rowing in Gloucester.

Siren Song's design is based on a Cornish Pilot gig, but has some differences: She is built of plywood, with an oak keel and flat, mahogany gunwales.  She is 29 feet long, rather than 32 feet. Originally, Siren Song had a set of solid wood oars and bronze oarlocks. She now has three sets of various types of oars and uses "T-hole" or "I-hole" pins to hold the oars in position.

What is a pilot gig?
 

  A pilot gig is a six-oared rowing craft, whose design originated in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly during the 18th century. Some pilot gigs had sail power as well as oars. Pilot gigs were used to ferry pilots out to ships and the first pilot to arrive got the job of guiding the ship into harbor. Thus, the fastest boat was the most successful. According to some historical accounts, gigs also ferried contraband into port. A web site in the United Kingdom http://connexions.co.uk/pgr/index.htm, says “The Pilot Gig was the 18th Century equivalent to the speed boat, with six rowers reaching speeds of 8-9 knots.”

 These days, gigs are recreational craft. There are numerous rowing clubs in England, particularly in Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly, and a few elsewhere in Europe and Australia. In the United States, it is less popular, but slowly growing, with 7-8 clubs in New England.