I recently picked up for bedtime reading John Gardner's "More Building Classic Small Craft." One of the boats he describes is the Scilly Isles (UK) pilot gig, which was an amazingly seaworthy craft used for ferrying pilots to and from ships and also for lifeboat work. Similar types were in use in other parts of Britain and France at the time and many have been revived. Larry's whaleboat answer is probably valid, as the low freeboard for rowing would be desirable in that type also.