Flight

Overview

Rowing Shells - Mahogany Series - Flight

Step into the future

The Flight was designed with deliberation to break all conventions in traditional wooden shell design. The motivation to do this stemmed from a revolutionary concept brought to Levator in 1996 by Mike Elmitt a Professor of Architecture at the University of Waterloo/Ontario. This new idea became the focal point of reconsidering the most fundamental aspects of a wooden racing single.

The INstep solved a complex problem with all singles and scullers; stepping in and out of a narrow boat without harming the boat or the sculler. The solution was to lower the centre portion of the seat deck to the keel. Lowering the center of gravity gives maximum stability and also reduces the amount of tuck required to get in and out of the shell, thereby lessening strain on hips and knees. The INstep makes space for conveniant storage of water bottles and integrates a lifting handle located on the balance point of the shell. The lowering of the seat deck demanded rethinking and reengineering of the entire cockpit and rigging system.

From a design standpoint the resulting changes became a contrasted blend of the traditional and modern creating an authentic statement, challenging the eye of the beholder. The ulitmate focus on any racing shell single is speed. This characteristic is enabled using aerospace high modulus areospace carbon fibre in the hull. The molded INstep seatdeck unifies the monocoque design structurally and visually. Molded Mahogany decks and splashboards further unify. From a performance standpoint the Flight parallels Levator’s high performance competetitor the Torque. These attributes make it a source of pride for the builder, as well as a challenge:

"Cerebrally the Flight single, that’s the top of the mountain for me. It’s absolutely my crowning achievment as a boatbuilder. There’s not a lot of pieces in it, it’s simple - the form, the shape, the components – but it seems to take an incredible amount of time to build. It’s always a bit of a mystery. I look at it and say, “Why is this taking so long?” Moulding these parts, getting the flow, getting the design and plasticity and everything connected takes a long time but it’s worth the effort to feel it on the water.

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

Part of the challenge is the Flight is a blended boat of mahogany and composite materials:

"There are big pieces of moulding that we are bonding veneer to honeycomb. The inside of the boat is all composite. The keelstringer is a moulded triangle, it’s an invention; that’s what it is. Building these is not just going to the lumberyard, buying a bunch of wood and putting it up on the bandsaw and then whacking it together."

– Jürgen Kaschper, boat designer

The Flight is as much an intrument as it is a fine racing single. The INstep required removal of the traditional rigger knees. A carbon wing was sculpted to keep in tune with the original design concept. The wing is skinned with the same carbon used in the hull. Internal reinforcement consists of multilayers of specialized unidirectional and triaxial fibre. Final strength and flexural properties are achieved by tempering the parts through baking at 250 degrees F. The wing mounts to its seperate carbon flanges bonded to the interior against the gunnel stringers and fibre reinforced mahogany splashboards. As with the EXCELLENCE, the Flight is saltwater ready to row with titanium rigger pins. The multi-adjustable welded footrest and adjustble tracks are hardcoat anodized. A Dreher carbon roller bearing seat and a concealed NK Speedcoach wiring harness is standard.

Unlike any other boat in the world ...

Why reinvent the wheel?....

Why not?

"I like what I do"
– Jürgen Kaschper

Construction

Specs

Testimonials

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