building a rowing shell

Hello everyone. There was an earlier post about building a rowing shell out of wood. I am interested in building a composite rowing shell using fiberglass.

Currently I'm looking for shell design/dimensions for a single. I'm not a rower myself but I'm thinking of making this for my fiance as a surprise so I could use all the help!

Thank you,
Rio

 

Shells are desined to the rower's weight and power.

 

thank you Gonzo. She rowed lightweight 4 during college but was bow seat for V8 for the school too so had good power. Where would be the best place to start looking for designs/dimensions? I asked a friend today and she said I should just check a rowing brand site and they would have dimensions. I looked at vespoli (which only had length of the boat and the max. width beam at waterline) and hudson (which only had the length).

I am just trying to get a starting point here and I really would appreciate any hints I could get! Thank you, rio

 

Designs are proprietary and they won't give you more than the basic details. You can study shells, take the lines off and compare them. Uffa Fox published the lines for a single shell, but it is a bit obsolete is she wants to compete.

 

Chesapeake Light Craft have plans and kits for rowing shells, and might be able to help you with sizing. You can find them at clcboats.com

 

Chris Maas designs shells - he comes here sometimes, and can be found on Sailing Anarchy. Pocock Shells makes boats- there was an article in Woodenboat a while ago. Doug Kidder or Kidder Racing makes shells using Chris Maas' designs.

CutOnce

 

Racing shell

The lines of a racing shell are rather more complex than they seem. Really the only way is to copy an existing shell and build a wooden mould. Once you have the mould the shell is cold moulded in two layers of veneer then removed from the mould and the internal ribs added.

 

Looks like he wants fiberglass not wood.

rs054 - do you think she wants to compete again? Or just row for exercise?
There are a few plans for sale for wooden skulls which you could convert to glass. It really makes a difference at what level she is interested.

Woodenboat has several plans you could look at.

Marc

 

Woodenboat plans are not for professional builders. If she wants to compete, you need to buy current plans from a successful designer.

 

I understand your desire to create something special with your own hands. The boat will then contain a huge emotional component.

A far more practical method is to buy a boat, perhaps a good used one, and apply your skills and emotions to an elegant refurbishing job. Chances are that it will cost less, and surely take less time. Most of all you can determine, beforehand, whether it is a good competitive boat.

Building with FRP is going to be a long, laborious, messy, itchy, unproven, and expensive proposition. Unless you are prepared to spend extravagantly for kevlar or carbon, the wooden boat will be lighter. A lovely cold molded shell will build faster than all the hassle of building a plug, a mold, and then a boat. See the informative book; Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction.

 

Hi Rio,
there are lines for a single scull in the book Rowable Classics by Daryl J Strickler, also Fisa (The world controlling body) originally had plans for a single,at one time this scull was the standard for the worlds, I believe Dreher (well know for there "creative design" of oars) is still having the Fisa single built , and they are acting as agent,,
If you contact Fisa they may be able to let you have a coppy of the plans. The scull design would at least come with some pedigree.
However building in glass would require some creative thinking using faom as well as glass, possibly strip but using foam instead of wood.
regards

Mike