The Training Shell - R23 

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This fine boat is a 'training shell', not a racing shell.  It is long enough to make use of the power of a full sliding-seat rig and is built as a practical alternative to the fragile shells used solely for racing.

 

A personal note: Originally built in the 1980's in wood, this seaworthy rowing shell is now available in Royalite. I have enjoyed my own wood version for many years, and was delighted to work on the Royalite version, which has been modified to improve its sea-handling qualities.

George Rossiter in his wood version

This boat is fast and exciting to row, but it is also stable and seaworthy.
It can be finished with an open.
It can be finished with an open cockpit or fully closed in.

set up for double rowing

 leaving the dock

Looks fast just sitting there, doesn't it?

double rowing single rowing

The Training Shell 23 Stable Strong Very fast Light It is great fun to row!

 

What is a 'training' shell? Compared to a full-race rowing shell, the Training Shell 23 is tougher, wider, shorter, stronger, more stable and has more freeboard. (It is more seaworthy and heavier, too, at about the weight of a canoe.) It is not fragile, and is quite suitable for daily use.  It is long enough to make use of the power of a full sliding seat rig.

• The building material, Royalite, is very tough and durable. It has flotation in its core so it is unsinkable and there is no need for extra flotation.
• The Training Shell has the same high quality hardware and components that are used on 'full-racing' shells.
• It is fast and easy to change the boat from a single to a double.  There are three stretcher and outrigger positions so that the boat is always trimmed when rigged as a single or as a double.

There is very little maintenance to be done and only high quality material is used throughout. The hull, deck and interior can be finished in a variety of different colours.

As a training shell this boat is excellent for beginners and experienced rowers. With a beam of 2'2" it is quite stable and at 23'-4" in length it is very fast. The boat weighs about 65 lbs. and is light enough to be carried easily by one or two people.