Women's Light Weight Scull Design Questions

[arumz]

PAR sent me your way from http://www.boatdesign.net...

 

Im starting the design process for a competitive rowing scull. When I say competitive I mean club level- not the Olympics but somewhere in between. I have competitively rowed for several years on sweep and am transitioning to sculling. I am in the process of trying out several different style sculls on the water. My biggest issue is starting the design. Ive been doing alot of background research on popular designs like the King Fisher. These designs would not result in optimal speed due to my body type (<130lbs, 5ft 9inches).

 

What is the best way to determine optimal hull length and beam width for a light weight women's scull?

 

 

[Kudzu]

Wow, honestly I don't know. Rowing is quite different than kayaking so I don't think I can give you any good advice since I know virtually nothing about scull designs. Narrower and more round shape create the lowest resistance but there is going to be more to making a good scull. 

 

You really need to find someone with experience in sculls and pick their brains.  It's just to far from what I know for me to be of any help.

[Action Tiger]

I have "designed" a few of my own boats by finding something close to what I wanted, and then making it more what I wanted.

Models really help, and can be cheap.

I would begin by asking around about competitive sculls like you want, then looking at as many as you can, no matter what they are made of. Measure, take pictures, row them.

Part art, part science. Good luck.

[KStier]

As a former collegiate rower and sculler (sculler on the side, not much collegiate sculling) I'd say that if you want to be fast you'll essentially copy dimensions from one of the big and successful companies...vespoli, empacher, resolute etc. Even in the amateur ranks you will see very high end boats made from very lightweight composites, fiberglass, carbon fiber etc. I've seen some very attractive wooden sculls but to be competitive...I don't know if that's realistic. My shell was something like 25 feet long and weighed in at something like thirty pounds give or take. That was in the 1990s so my memory may not serve. I'm sure they've gotten lighter since. Could be a true work of art though.

[PAR]

Competitive shells are all science, though the really fast ones have a little witchcraft tossed in. In spite of Jeff's reluctance to help, I'll bet he can model up a pretty good shell, for you to work with.