The Buzzards Bay Rowing Club is working to keep alive a maritime tradition, and this summer members hope its “whaleboats” will become a familiar site in Onset.

Founded in 2005, the Fairhaven-based club maintains and races three whaleboats, originally designed to hunt whales. The boats would attach to the side of whaling ships, and when the crew spotted a whale the boats would launch with five rowers and a steersman. Then, a crew member would harpoon the whale and haul it back to the main ship.

While club members aren’t concerned with finding whales, they take all other aspects of handling the boats seriously, offering training and welcoming new members of a wide range of ages.

“We’re very much a social club that also promotes water safety and staying fit,” said club President Heidi Hacking.

On Sunday, members of the club’s board of directors met at Onset Pier with Kat Jones, president of the Onset Bay Association, to check out Onset. Hacking said the plan is to bring outreach events to Onset this summer and eventually racing.

“This is an opportunity for us to check out some new water,” said Hacking. “It’s beautiful down here.”

With Onset bustling in the summer, club members floated the idea of bringing visitors out for rides on the water and even trying rowing the boats themselves.

Jones said she and the Onset Bay Association will offer support to the club in securing the necessary permits from the town.

On Sunday, club members took a spin around Wickets Island in one of its whaleboats, the “Kanawah.” The three fiberglass boats the club has are 28 feet long, 6 feet wide and weigh about 700 pounds. Oars range from 13 to 15 feet while the steering oar is 26 feet.

Connie Garbutt, who was curious to find out more about the club, went along for a ride. She stepped out of the boat impressed.

“This was fantastic,” she said. “What a thrill and it looks like terrific exercise.”

For more information on Buzzards Bay Rowing, click here.