RACING SHELLS - Van Dusen Racing Boats - flatwater racing kayaks and rowing shells, custom spars

Racing Shells

The Evolution of an
Extraordinary Design in Rowing Shells

Over the past two decades, Van Dusen racing boats have helped US athletes capture over 50 medals in international competition. Our single and double shells have dominated the National Rowing Championships and National Rowing Team trials, and our shells have carried hundreds of athletes to victory in Head races, Masters', and Veterans' competitions. We are proud we could help these rowers achieve victory on the race course. We believe your Van Dusen racing shell can give you a substantial advantage in achieving your own goal, whether this is obtaining an Olympic gold medal or just the feeling of flying on the water under your own power.

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Technological Progress

The basic principles of rowing shell design are relatively well understood, based on a long empirical tradition of shell craftsmanship, and on more recent scientific research. Technological improvements in rowing shells will result from achieving small but significant improvements in shell design and construction. In a sport where the finish is recorded in hundredths of a second, however, even a small design improvement can determine the difference between a medal and defeat. Our newest elite racing shell embodies a series of design improvements which, taken together, can give you a competitive advantage of several boat lengths at the finish line, compared to other leading US and European models.

The Van Dusen Advantage combines the optimum tradeoff between minimizing hydrodynamic and aerodynamic drag and maximizing stability for specific weight classes; and the use of advanced aerospace composite materials and a high-technology heat and pressure curing process. This unique formula for success allows us to produce a racing shell that has proven itself through tank testing, race results, and customer feedback as the stiffest, most responsive, and fastest of its kind.

Translating your power into forward propulsion:
Some important factors

Hydrodynamic Drag - The Van Dusen Advantage produces up to 5% less hydrodynamic drag than other leading racing shells.

Extensive full-size towing tests sponsored by the US Olympic Committee and theoretical and practical analyses of hull shape help us hold frictional drag and wave drag at minimum. Tank tests conducted between 1986 and 1992 proved that the traditional Van Dusen hull reduced hydrodynamic drag by three to four percent over other leading boats. We reduced hydrodynamic drag by an additional few tenths of a percent on the Advantage singles and more than one percent on the Advantage doubles and pairs.

Aerodynamic Drag - Recent wind-tunnel tests show that Van Dusen aerofoil wing riggers can reduce the total drag on a racing shell by 1% over conventional tubular riggers.

In addition to the wing rigger, the design of the Van Dusen Advantage reduces the frontal area of the rower by lowering the seat deck, further reducing aerodynamic drag.

This combination of drag reduction can give you a six meter advantage over a 2,000 meter course.

Stiffness - The Van Dusen Advantage is the stiffest, most responsive shell available.

Shell stiffness is a critical factor. If a rowing shell is flexible, it absorbs some of the energy and power of the rower when it should translate that power into immediate acceleration and forward motion. Flexibility reduces the rowers' ability to apply their full force on the oar at the catch, and increases the time it takes to get up to full pressure.

Van Dusen racing boats are manufactured using advanced composite materials and space-age manufacturing technology. Our autoclave curing process combines elevated temperatures and pressure which allows us to use more unidirectional carbon fiber and a high performance heat-cured epoxy. Our hull laminate is thus lighter and stronger than any other. In water bending tests, Advantage shells flex much less than other boats tested when weight is added to the cockpit.

Choosing your Van Dusen Racing Shell

Van Dusen racing shells are designed for athletes competing at top international levels, but their lightness, strength and responsiveness have also commended them to less competitive rowers who value their excellence and functional grace.

Our current production models are Advantage lightweight and heavyweight singles, and our brand new Advantage lightweight and heavyweight doubles, pairs, and pair/ double convertibles. Our traditional hull models are available upon request.

Hull Size - Each Van Dusen hull size is designed to minimize hydrodynamic resistance and to optimize athletic performance for rowers in a particular weight class. Advantage singles and doubles are available in two hull sizes.

The Advantage Flyweight for rowers weighing 120 - 155 pounds.

The Advantage Lightweight for rowers weighing 140 - 175 pounds.

The Advantage Heavyweight for rowers weighing 165 - 215 pounds.

Choosing Equipment for your Van Dusen Racing Shell

We manufacture the equipment and parts for our rowing shells with the same engineering finesse, attention to detail, and quality we use in designing our hulls. Your Van Dusen racing shell comes equipped with a number of standard options. Alternative equipment options are also available for an additional charge so that you can assemble the optimum rowing package for your size, skill level, and budget.

We manufacture the equipment and parts for our rowing shells with the same engineering finesse, attention to detail, and quality we use in designing our hulls. Your Van Dusen racing shell comes equipped with a number of standard options. Alternative equipment options are also available for an additional charge so that you can assemble the optimum rowing package for your size, skill level, and budget.

Riggers - We designed our carbon fiber wing riggers for the US Olympic Rowing Team. Our wing riggers combine a unique aerofoil shape with a special carbon-fiber laminate. In addition to reduced aerodynamic drag and increased speed, our wing rigger offers additional benefits over conventional riggers:

The wing rigger is very stiff and stable, improving the precision of your bladework and balance, and reducing splashing in rough water.
Our wing rigger permits a wide range of rigging adjustments to be made very easily. The footboard is attached to the wing, so you can adjust your rigging and feet placement once and your wing rigger will hold these adjustments.
You can easily remove your wing riggers for travel or boat storage and then replace them with all rigging adjustments intact.
Your wing rigger will fit in any Van Dusen hull adapted for a wing rigger. You can take your rigger anywhere in the world, borrow a hull, and be rowing in minutes. Team rowers can switch seats simply by switching the position of their wing riggers.

Wing riggers are standard on Advantage singles and doubles, and are optional on our traditional models. Concept II oarlocks with titanium pins are standard equipment on all Van Dusen racing shells. Another option is our aluminum tube wing rigger. We will rig your new racing shell to your specifications before delivery at no charge. We will also be glad to advise you on rigging details after you have begun rowing the new shell.

Colors - Brightly-colored Van Dusen racing shells are instantly recognizable on any race course.

Standard colors: Offwhite Revisited, Kingston (light) Grey, Forest Green, Empress (light) Blue, Medium Blue, Vivid Red, International Orange.

Tape Colors: White, Black, Green, Blue, Red

Alternate non-stock colors (Kelly Green, New Teal, Stars and Stripes Blue, Sky Blue, Ice Blue) are available for an additional charge.

Other options include a two tone color scheme (hull and deck separate colors) and custom paint.

Seats - Carl Douglas seats are standard equipment on all shells.

Accessories - We offer several important accessories for you Van Dusen racing boat to protect it during transportation and/ or storage.

The Van Dusen boat rack is designed to attach rigged or unrigged Van Dusen racing boats and oars securely to any standard car rack. Boat racks are available for all Van Dusen singles and doubles.
Our boat covers, custom made by Row Works, zip on over boats and fit over the boat when it is on the rack unrigged or fully rigged. Colors for covers: Silver, Natural, Forest Green, Kelly Green, Marine Blue, Royal Blue, Red, Orange (inquire about other colors)
If desired, we will install a Nielsen-Kellerman Strokecoach or Speedcoach wiring system during construction of your new boat. This below-deck installation eliminates external wires in the footwell and enables you to unplug just the Strokecoach or Pacecoach unit when you are not rowing.

Competitor Support

Recognizing that the world's fastest boat can't help you earn a medal if you can't get needed parts or repairs, we have greatly enhanced our competitor support services. We are dedicated to providing sound advice and quick service for repairs, replacements, adjustments, and new boat orders. Most parts for the Advantage are stocked for immediate express shipment anywhere in the world.

Dimensions of Van Dusen Shells
	Length Overall	Waterline Beam	Maximum Depth
Advantage Hulls:
Advantage Flyweight 1x:	25.15 ft	9.58 in	8.72 in
Advantage Lightweight 1x:	25.98 ft	9.64 in	8.72 in
Advantage Heavyweight 1x:	26.49 ft	10.38 in	9.00 in
Advantage Lightweight 2x/2-:	32.54 ft	13.46 in	9.90 in
Advantage Heavyweight 2x/2-:	33.53 ft	14.11 in	10.17 in
Traditional Hulls:
Lightweight 1x:	25.89 ft	8.92 in	10.50 in
Midweight 1x:	26.51 ft	10.00 in	10.50 in
Heavyweight 1x:	26.50 ft	11.60 in	10.25 in
Double/ pair:	31.51 ft	13.70 in	11.25 in

To Order:
Call Composite Engineering Inc.
Phone: 1-978-371-3132
Fax: 1-978-369-3162
Or E-Mail: customerservice@vandusenracingboats.com