Concept2 Forum

Has anyone here used the C2 bantam sculls? If so, what are your thoughts?

PaulG and I have C2 Bantams for our boats on the Merrimack River in Haverhill, MA. He for his Peinert Zehpyr and me for my Alden Star. Mine are three years old and his are about four years old and we both are fully satisfied with them. I'd used Aldens, Crokers, and some nameless oars before and like the Bantams much better.

Last Saturday I rowed in a borrowed boat and oars at a regatta in Springfield and had to use some older and heavier C2 oars. They made me appreciate my Bantams even more.

Thankyou rickbayco. Normally your testimony would persuade me to make the purchase of the C2 Bantam sculls I have been considering, but another factor has come into play. That factor is my treatment on this forum.

I recently asked 'afriedma' on his thread if he had ended up buying the Bantam sculls, and if so, what were his thoughts. It is an older thread but you can find it below, still on the first page of this section (Title: 'Bantam Sculls?'). Citroen, the site moderator, deleted my post, locked the thread, and publicly berated me for posting on that older thread. Apparently not satisfied with that, he followed it with a private message accusing me of having "a wish that requires you to annoy anybody and everybody".

Citroen is the C2 representative on this forum so understandably his behaviour towards me has influenced my decision regarding where I will be purchasing my sculling oars.

Slidewinder wrote: ↑

September 14th, 2024, 5:37 pm

Citroen is the C2 representative on this forum so understandably his behaviour towards me has influenced my decision regarding where I will be purchasing my sculling oars.

I am NOT a C2 rep. I'm just a normal user like you are.

Hey there, Slidewinder! I haven't personally used the C2 bantam sculls, but I've heard some good things about them from fellow rowers. I'd recommend checking out online reviews or reaching out to some experienced rowers in your network to get their insights on the product. It's always helpful to gather different perspectives before making a decision. Good luck, and happy rowing!

Citroen wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 6:59 am

Slidewinder wrote: ↑

September 14th, 2024, 5:37 pm

Citroen is the C2 representative on this forum so understandably his behaviour towards me has influenced my decision regarding where I will be purchasing my sculling oars.

I am NOT a C2 rep. I'm just a normal user like you are.

You are a C2 rep in that as moderator of the C2 Forum your behaviour reflects negatively on Concept 2. As a result you have just lost a sale for Concept 2. When members of the Peterborough Rowing Club ask why I didn't purchase the C2 sculls, I'll tell them.

I generally use a mix of Concept2 Smoothie2, Big Blade or Bantams. The club I row at over the summer season is recreational and all the boats and oars pretty much set up the same so can jump into any boat with any pair of oars. The big blades/smoothies are all set up 288/88, with the bantam having a shorter outboard. This makes them feel lighter / less loading. Tend to use them in the quads, but have been out in a single with them. I can notice the lighter feel when hanging off the blade at the catch between the bantams and the others.
If shopping around for a new pair, I think they are very good value for money. Other C2 blade you can mix and match shafts, length and so on but end up paying nearly double. Other makes at the cheaper end generally lower carbon content and much heavier. If recreational rowing then I don't think can go far wrong with them. Second-hand sculling oars are a minefield, they either seem to be nearly new and more expensive than the Bantams or run into the ground - making a good case the Bantams.

Slidewinder wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 6:28 pm

Citroen wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 6:59 am

Slidewinder wrote: ↑

September 14th, 2024, 5:37 pm

Citroen is the C2 representative on this forum so understandably his behaviour towards me has influenced my decision regarding where I will be purchasing my sculling oars.

I am NOT a C2 rep. I'm just a normal user like you are.

You are a C2 rep in that as moderator of the C2 Forum your behaviour reflects negatively on Concept 2. As a result you have just lost a sale for Concept 2. When members of the Peterborough Rowing Club ask why I didn't purchase the C2 sculls, I'll tell them.

How big do I have to put this?
I am NOT a C2 rep. I'm just a normal user like you are.
If you want to have the moderator's job, just shout about it and you can have the hassle.

There were plenty of bantams at the Olympics last month. They seem to make sculling less dependent on sheer strength. My 20yo Filippi and her sculls were certainly running me into the ground, used to the slack erg catch, so I sold the lot.

Dino wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 6:32 pm

I generally use a mix of Concept2 Smoothie2, Big Blade or Bantams. The club I row at over the summer season is recreational and all the boats and oars pretty much set up the same so can jump into any boat with any pair of oars.

Thanks Dino. Good info. I'm a senior novice recreational rower. The Peterborough Rowing Club is on the same water as the Trent University club - a long stretch of backwater off the Otonobee River. The river itself can be used during the summer and fall when the current is slow. Feels far from the city, although it isn't.

Slidewinder wrote: ↑

September 16th, 2024, 9:04 am

Thanks Dino. Good info. I'm a senior novice recreational rower. The Peterborough Rowing Club is on the same water as the Trent University club - a long stretch of backwater off the Otonobee River. The river itself can be used during the summer and fall when the current is slow. Feels far from the city, although it isn't.

Looks like a nice stretch of water!
I put myself firmly in the novice senior rec category too! At the club I mostly row a Wintech Competitor and manage to keep it shiny side up at home I have started dabbling in some light coastal / lake rowing and have an event as it happens this weekend which is going to be the furthest I have ever rowed on the water after that its probably ergo only until the spring

I meant to add that I actually have Swift Club Performance sculls at home (short length) and am trying them set up slightly shorter than the C2s at the club. These are very competitively priced. It looks like there is a Swift distributor in Canada. Might be worth a look depending on how they are priced in C$. All the best with your decision.

Dino wrote: ↑

September 16th, 2024, 1:39 pm

All the best with your decision.

A couple of years ago I spoke to Carol Love, Olympian and former Trent U. rowing coach. She suggested that at my age if I wanted to get into rowing I should consider a wherry. You still move, she said, but the boat is more forgiving of novice errors. So I took her advice. I have just completed 'Liz', designed by Ken Bassett (a search will bring up some images).

This winter I intend to build and install a sliding rigger. As many here will know, sliding riggers were banned from the Olympics in the mid-80's. It was a controversial decision. The reason given was that smaller clubs would be unable to afford the equipment change, giving an unfair advantage to clubs that could. I enjoy building things, and I expect members of the club will want to try what I put together.

ShiftSavvy wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 3:03 pm

I haven't personally used the C2 bantam sculls, but I've heard some good things about them from fellow rowers.

Thanks, ShiftSavvy, but after having made a simple, courteous inquiry of another poster in another thread about the C2 Bantam sculls, and then having my post deleted, the thread locked, and then to further receive a verbally abusive private message from Citroen, the site moderator, it doesn't matter how wonderful are the C2 sculling oars. I won't be buying them.

it doesn't matter how wonderful are the C2 sculling oars. I won't be buying them.

That's a well-known strategy, with a well-known mirror.

However I'd guess a wherry might require lower gearing than a racing shell anyway.

Citroen wrote: ↑

September 15th, 2024, 6:59 am

I am NOT a C2 rep. I'm just a normal user like you are.

He stated in other threads he hates everything associated with C2 as a company. I don't think there is much you or others can say to convince a self-confessed hater to buying a product from a company he hates. He is just trolling.