General consensus on different shells...

[fishbust1]

Levator?

[glenmbaker]

Levator?

What about them? Jurgen makes nice boats. Go to levator.com, look at the double on the bottom right. That's a 2004 and that's me at stroke (and my son in bow). The boat is absolutely gorgeous (turns heads at regattas) and it is a pleasure to row. OK, it's not a wicked light carbon ship but when you put it in the water it just sits there and says "come on...let's go!" as opposed to other boats that seem to want to capsize before you even get in. Our club has an Empacher double and I'd rather row the Levator, it might not be quite as fast but it's waaaaay more fun.

After experiencing the craftsmanship and care that went into my double, and given that I've spoken with/emailed Jurgen a few times, when I ever get around to replacing my '98 Hudson 1x(which I love dearly) I am definitely going to try to find a way to row one of his current designs. Only problem is there just don't seem to be all that many of 'em (like none?) over here on the west coast!

[Oldibtgdy]

GoPro in the bow talking to an iPhone at the cox's station might have avoided that. Oh yeah. I'm rowing an old Empacher I've had since new and a brand new Fillipi. I like them both. The new Fillipi's a work of art. Prettiest, nicest finish, best designed -- but I don't seem to have gotten around to breaking either of them and I'm not sure which is faster.

[Ilike2row]

Fluidesign makes really nice singles. We have purchased two of them. Our kids have raced them with good results.