Excellence

Overview

Rowing Shells - Mahogany Series - Excellence

A modern expression of the classic wooden boat!

In a class of its own the Levator EXCELLENCE is an uncompromising embodiment of design, materials and aesthetics, bridging the traditional with the contempory. The essence of Levator wooden boatbuilding is the EXCELLENCE – a boat with lines and form that speaks instantly to the viewer:

"From a design standpoint, the Excellence has the most pull. It’s classic design; looks like a wooden single should look like and makes sense to people."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

The look of the boat is only part of it’s excellence. Our goal was to develop a shell that moves beyond nostalgia by combining composites with a wooden exterior to enhance its inherent characteristics: strength, beauty, and longevity.

By using advanced materials and techniques create the ablilty to eliminate the age-old problem in wooden boats of rot and cracking. This achieved in the hull by combining mahogany veneers with impact resistant Kevlar fabric and high performance structural glass fiber(s-glass) under vacuum pressure in an epoxy matrix. All internal stringers are compression molded carbon fiber. All interior surfaces are of synthetic fiber. Further enhancements which bring synergy to the design include hard decks constructed of nomex honeycomb core. The core is sandwiched between a bottom layer of s-glass and a top layer of fibrer reinforced mahagony veneer which is bonded using epoxy adhesive under vacuum pressure. The rigger knees are fully encapsulated with carbon insure minimal flex at the catch. Attached to the knees are light weight Aframe riggers complete with keyed titanium pins providing simple span adjusment using the turn of 1 wrench. Standard equipment includes a Dreher composite roller bearing seat and a fully height and angle adjustable footstretcher. All aluminum components; rigging tracks and welded alumuminum footstretcher are hardcoat anodized ready for saltwater use.

This modern interpretation of the wooden boat combine simple clean lines with building techniques realized in the 21st century:

"I had one client that had rowed a wooden boat and he wanted a wooden boat; that’s all he wanted to look at. But after we talked it over and looked through the options and what he wanted to do with the boat he ended up settling on an Excellence boat where Kevlar and mahogany are brought together for a more durable boat that can withstand more punishment. He liked the blended aesthetic of the carbon ribs with the wood, where the whole thing works. He took a look at the boat and said, “Yes, I like how it looks, it’s beautiful, it’s functional, it’s current.” It’s not a steam-bent cedar boat from the 1930s or something. It’s a boat that could only be built today."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

Building a boat that integrates classic wooden boat design and advances in new materials is a challenge in itself:

"Fifty years ago guys could not build the boat that I build today because the technology, the materials, the epoxies, the resins, the finishes weren’t there. The wood was there, but there is a here and now that is a part of these boats, which makes them truly unique. And these advances actually make it more difficult for me to build. It’s not getting easier to build these; they are much more complex."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

The combined result of this intersection between classic and advanced design and modern boatbuilding using advanced composites is the EXCELLENCE. A new definition of a fine racing boat which is sure to stimulate and challenge a skilled sculler with each stroke on the water.

"I like what I do"
– Jürgen Kaschper

Construction

Specs

Testimonials

My news will be bittersweet to you, but I was able to locate, try and buy a lightweight Excellence you built in 1995. I drove to Maine on Friday and tried it – absolute love as soon as I was in it. After always rowing boats that were too big, this is like finding a shoe that fits and realizing I don't have to become used to discomfort. I also must thank you for taking the time to speak with me last wee. Hearing about the boats you build and learning about the Excellence is what gave me the confidence to get in my truck and drive to Maine.

Deborah L.

I have used most of the superlatives I know already describing this boat, I only have one left... PERFECT.

The boat sets up wonderfully for me and is a joy out on the open water.

I could not imagine a better single in the world for me to row !!!

Thank you for an amazing present day rowing heirloom, I will enjoy it as long as I possibly can.

Bruce

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