St. Catharines Boatworks?

[Heather]

Hey all,

I'm looking at purchasing a single and have a few options, primarily a '98
Hudson and a '98 St. Catharines Boatworks shell, both lightweight. I'm
familiar with Hudson... but not with St. Catharines Boatworks. I know they
aren't producing shells anymore, but that's about it.

Does anyone have any info to share on those shells? Durability, quality, how
they row compared to Hudsons, etc?

Thanks!

[Matthew Turner]

Post by Heather
Does anyone have any info to share on those shells? Durability, quality, how
they row compared to Hudsons, etc?

Hey Heather!

The hull design is the Klaus Filter Fisa Standard Shell, which
certainly looks like a good design and it was professionally done. I'd
expect it's better than many of the designs out there, but I've no
idea how it would stack up against a Hudson. That's the realm of
personal preference and I'd go with whichever boat you like the "feel"
of best.

I initially had a bit of a bias against the Fisa design as Stampfli
used to retail the boat as a "plastic training single" which really
isn't the highest praise possible, but they were into wooden boats at
that stage.

As to the quality, I don't think I'd recommend buying a five year old
boat by either manufacturer without getting a first hand look at them.
Anything that's going to shake out will have done so by now, so what
you see is what you get.


Regards,

Matt Turner
Turner Racing Shells Ltd.

[Mark Campbell]

I rowed a SCB at the US Nationals (Masters A) and FISA Worlds (Masters
B)in 2001. I thought it was a fantastic boat, loved the Canadian maple
leaf pattern on the stern and the boat felt great - excellent
stretcher design. It certainly went fast enough, or maybe I just had a
lucky tail breeze in my lane...

Mark

Post by Heather
Hey all,
I'm looking at purchasing a single and have a few options, primarily a '98
Hudson and a '98 St. Catharines Boatworks shell, both lightweight. I'm
familiar with Hudson... but not with St. Catharines Boatworks. I know they
aren't producing shells anymore, but that's about it.
Does anyone have any info to share on those shells? Durability, quality, how
they row compared to Hudsons, etc?
Thanks!