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SIMPLE CAPSIZE RECOVERY
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SUPERIOR STABILITY
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LARGE CARRYING CAPACITY
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VERSATILITY
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| LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN FOR TOWING |
Expedition Rowboat 
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| Expedition Rowboat |
This product is available for purchase. Details>>
This expedition-designed rowing scull is seaworthy, fast and can carry a month's provisions. The watertight storage space is accessed through extra-large hatches and the roomy cockpit is adequate for rowers of all sizes.
We designed this rowboat for an expedition rowing from Scotland to Syria, and the boats handled well in conditions ranging from stormy coastlines to placid canals. The hull is flat bottomed providing substantial initial and secondary stability. The defined angle between the keel panel and the first chine provides excellent lateral resistance and tracking negating the requirement of a drag-inducing keel or skeg that rounder-bottomed boats require.
Seaworthiness is provided through watertight decks and cockpit side chambers. Due to the hull's shape and breadth, the boat is very difficult to capsize, but in the event that it does it can be righted quickly, and all water drains from the cockpit as it returns upright. The cockpit is easily re-entered from the side, and the rower can be underway again within seconds of a spill. Sufficient freeboard and a cockpit coaming ensure a dry ride in all but the roughest conditions.
Faster than an Olympian-Propelled Rowing Shell In February 2008, a British Olympic Gold Medalist Rower tried breaking the rowing speed record for crossing the English Channel. He used a high-performance custom designed rowing scull and had a time of 6:01. Two months later Julie and Colin crossed the same channel rowing 43 km in two Expeditions, each laden with a bicycle, trailer and other gear. They simultaneously reached the shores of France with a time of 4:56. The fastest time in still held by Olympic Rowing Gold Medalist Guin Batten, who crossed the Channel in an impressive 3:14. How could Colin and Julie be faster than a gold medalist? Here’s Julie’s response - The weather was rough, and the stability of the boats allowed us to put our full energy into propulsion instead of balance. |
Although seaworthiness and load carrying are paramount with this design, these attributes were included without sacrificing performance. Optimal performance is achieved through a long waterline length, minimal wetted area (no keel, rudder or skeg), hull shaped for tracking, light weight, negligible rocker (rocker saps speed) and minimal windage. Despite limited rocker and good tracking, the boat can be turned quickly. The steering power offered by oars combined with stability that allows full use of the steering force in single, reverse, or opposing strokes brings the boat around quickly. Those used to sea kayaks, canoes and racing shells will be pleasantly surprised with the maneuverability that allows the Expedition to do a 360 degree turn as quickly as a whitewater kayak.
Whether you're going for a weekend camping trip in style or an expedition through the Northwest Passage, this boat hauls gear like no other scull or kayak. The Expedition performs well with 200 kg of gear and is capable of hauling double that at slower speeds. The midship hatch is large enough to accommodate a mid-sized mountain bike and break-apart trailer. This is the boat Colin Angus used to break the human-powered record for circumnavigating Vancouver Island. He rowed 1100 km in 15.5 days in extremely challenging waters.
This boat is suitable for amphibious human-powered travel. It is light enough to be towed behind a bicycle and has room to carry the bicycle and trailer. Quality break-apart bicycle trailer systems can be purchased at Tony's Trailers (www.tonystrailers.com).
For those travelling in pairs, the boats can be joined in catamaran fashion with our optional catamaran kit. The catamaran is ideally suited for camping on calm waters (with a tent set up on the platform) or for a swimming/picnicking platform.
We provide sliding-seat/rigger kits suitable for rowing the Expedition. Third-party rowing rigs such as the Piantedosi Row Wing are also suitable.
Specs:
- Length Overall: 5.49 m (18')
- Weight: 38.5 kg (85 lbs)
- Waterline Length: 545 cm (17' 10")
- Width: 89 cm (35")
- Watertight compartments: 4 (5 if forward bulkhead is closed off)
- Sprint speed: 12-13 km/hr (7 knots)
- Cruise Speed: 7-8 km/hr (4 knots)
- Maximum recommended touring load: 270 kg (600 lbs)
- Maximum recommended short distance load: 400 kg (880 lbs)
| $169 | ||
| $149 | ||
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