About our boats

Swift Racing Boats are manufactured in a modern, fully integrated factory, using proven materials and production processes.  All boats are heat-cured under vacuum using epoxy resins for maximum structural integrity and stiffness. Even our lowest cost boats (Club A and Club B) use honeycomb cores on the canvas decks and saxboards, and PVC for the seat deck and keel in order to provide additional stiffness and minimize the overall weight.

A note about general rowing boat construction

Sandwich construction (an inner and outer skin, with a core in between) is by far the most common construction type in rowing boat construction, and the methods of construction used throughout the industry are surprisingly similar.  Either carbon, kevlar or fiberglass cloths and a core material, usually honeycomb or Lantor coremat, are treated with resin and then heat-cured under vacuum at high temperatures.  This method of boat building is to a certain degree unavoidably labor intensive.  While we continue to adopt the most up to date technology, we are also able to benefit from the relatively low cost of labor in China, which is then reflected in our prices.

A core material such as honeycomb is used to make a sandwich structure in order to increase hull thickness, while adding very little to overall weight.  The thickness of a composite structure directly affects its performance, in particular, its stiffness over its length, and its local hardness. Lantor coremat can also be used as an alternative core material, but because of its greater density, it results in a heavier boat. Lantor coremat does however provide a better bonding surface than honeycomb, has better impact resistance, often results in increased stiffness, and is easier to repair.