Personal RACER

Overview

Rowing Shells - Racer Series - Personal RACER

Faster! Stronger! Lighter! A Racer to call your own!

The Personal Racer is the evolution of the Standard RACER, the same great design with more advanced composite materials and hardware. It was created in response to demand by rowers who loved the Standard Racer at their clubs and wanted a personalized version for themselves. As such it is a logical progression in craftsmanship and engineering from a solid club single to privately owned racing shell.

The core elements of the Standard are preserved in the Personal Racer - its hallmark efficient hull designs and stability at the catch. The primary difference is in the quality materials. The aerospace 6k high modulus carbon used in the hull is 50% lighter than commercial grade 6k carbon with equivalent strength. The inner layer carbon is finished using a peelply to remove excess resin after curing. The result is a smooth print free surface building a laminate with an optimal resin to fibre ratio. This produces a lighter, stiffer boat. the net effect is speed. The inner layer of the cockpit and hull liner is finished with 3k carbon. The union of the carbon cockpit and carbon hull adds signifcant strength to the shell.

"The Personal Racer uses high-modulus carbon, instead of Kevlar-carbon fibre like the Standard Racer. This means I can use less material in the Personal Racer and still make it a stiffer, stronger, lighter and faster boat. The Standard Racer is a fast boat, the Personal Racer is a notch above."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

Another difference between the two racers is found in the hardware:

"The hardware in the Personal Racer is better. It has all the adjustments in hardware as the Torque, or an elite-level performance boat. It has a different rigger than the Torque but it has Titanium pins and an advanced A-frame rigger that is a little more elegant in terms of adjusting span than the Standard Racer rigger. The Personal also has a more advanced footstretcher, which has height and angle adjustment, is a welded aluminum unit and is a lot stronger. To make the boat even better I am now including the roller bearing, Dreher seat as a standard item."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

On the water, the Personal Racer, is a comfortable boat to row. It is more forgiving than the Torque but can still challenge the rower. This boat delivers charcterisitics to give optimal results whether racing straight line sprints or rowing dogleg head races. The Levator Racers have won and placed in many events and championships over the years on different levels levels of competition.

"I like what I do"
– Jürgen Kaschper

Construction

Specs

Testimonials

We took the boat out today in flat morning water in the Marina. The boat is great! Both my daughters rowed and we really enjoyed ourselves. Very responsive and glides very smoothly. We had brought dry clothes just in case but no one went swimming, we balanced through wakes and it was not difficult to balance the boat. Thank you!

Thanks for a great boat

Caroline T., Marina del Rey , CA.

I am coming up on 400,000 meters of use on the "personal racer". No problems to report. I am still very happy with the boat. I found that I can adjust the angle of the foot stretcher. Helped out a lot. Being kinda short and squat, being able to get my body angled over helps with the catch. The small crack in the gel-coat hasn’t "grown" at all.

The boat takes heavy use really well. I don’t have to baby it, I can really "use" it, which is what I need.

Chuck T.

This boat is fantastic. I had a wonderful first season with it and can't wait to get back on the water this spring.

It's incredibly stable at the catch and is able to capture all my power. Each stroke feels like pulling back an arrow in a bow and letting loose. The boat flies straight and fast, making the recovery very simple. I find I am pushing myself more and more each time I use it. By the end of the season I was rowing quite fast, but I know this boat can go even faster. I am sure we will have many years ahead to grow together.

The detailing you did on the colours and taping is superb. I have a truly unique shell that stands out on the water. The bright green hull is very visible, which is important to me because my rowing course on the Ottawa River is quite busy and I need the powerboats to see me. The reflective taping further supports this end, making the hull line stand out in the sunlight and particularly at sunset. I actually have rowed this boat in the dark several times with marker lights and confidence that the party powerboats can see me. The cool blue tinted carbon-fibre decks absorb the light, making it easy on my eyes. It is a nice surface to lock my eyes on in a zen-like stare as I focus on my technique.

I am glad I upgraded the hardware. The foot stretchers are firm and after experimenting with the pitch I have a very comfortable setting. It sets up perfectly for me, better than any other racing shell I have rowed. In total this boat is very light, which I imagine is part of the reason it flies in the water. The hull design must be the other part. Everything fits together. I don't know what is most important but I love the final result.

Chris

I have rowed a variety of boats the past 24 years, including many of Levator shells. Levator's custom built Personal Racer I rowed this past summer has to be my favorite. To understand how good this boat is, you must know that I row in some of the most challenging conditions on the Ottawa River. This boat flies over smooth, flat water and cuts through the roughest of stormy whitecaps. It sets up beautifully. It's stiffness and stability ensure the best of rows everytime. And, the yellow hull with red reflective tape ensures I am easily seen by motor boaters. Essentially, this is the best all around weather rowing shell that gets me on the water more often than any other I have rowed. What good is a boat if you cannot row it in all kinds of weather? It is obvious that Jurgen understands how to build a rowing shell for all conditions.

John P. Gaudaur Savage

Thanks for the time on Saturday. I love the boat. The maiden voyage went flawlessly.

I am excited.

Greg B.

Now that I've rowed my "new" boat, I can let you know that it is amazing! I love it. I'll try and remember to bring my camera next time...should have this morning, the lake was like glass.

Kathy H.

I received my levator single spring of 2007 and was estatic because of the design. Never being in a single before and being able to set the shell up was surprising. The smoothness of run in the shell, and power you feel is amazing. Keep up the good work.

Jimmy Wilkie

Although I've had my new boat for about a month, last night was the first time I could take Wasser Drache out for its maiden voyage! Wind, current, and water depth were finally just right. It was a great row! The boat and I had a great connection and everything "clicked."

Ducks and Canadian geese swam around as I rowed and a fly even hitched a ride with me...it landed on my stern and stayed there during the entire row!!! It is an amazing difference finally being in a boat that fits me...I don't have to overcompensate now! For example, I can pull the oars into my navel instead of high into my chest. I especially like how the smooth deck curves down behind my ankles...usually the backs of my legs get beat up from rubbing on the rough edges of other boats. I also really like the step-down (makes getting out very easy and a great place for my water bottle), the handle, and I felt very stable going out in it for the first time. I'll have to play around with tweaking the adjustments to get everything just right, but I love it and had an instant bond with it! Oh, I also got lots of compliments on the color!

Thanks so much for the beautiful boat!

Jennifer M.

Thanks Joe is BEAUTIFUL!!! And the rigger is like its own work of art. I used to do metal sculpture in the old days and I always love anything made of metal and I had to just keep stroking it! Love that my name is on it as well.

Al, the truck driver was great...such a nice guy. Kept me very informed as to his whereabouts.

Elodie