Stretchers, rowing shoes and flexfoot
Made from carbon cloth, with PVC foam core, and epoxy resin cured
at high temperature, our stretchers are both lightweight and rigid, and allow the
efficient transfer of power. They are easily adjustable for height, fore and aft
positioning, and rake (stretcher angle).
Our singles have the stretcher channels located on the saxboards, taking advantage
of the slope of the saxboard to allow for wider placement of shoes, and further adding
to saxboard stiffness.
All boats, regardless of grade are fitted with the same high quality shoes with Velcro
straps that have a single, quick release pull tag. Heel restraints are attached as standard.
There is also the option at time of order to choose the Flexfoot system, instead of rowing shoes.
The Flexfoot stretcher uses parts based on CII's rowing machine, but modified for use in rowing boats.
That is, the heel is a rounded shape, and is closed for safety reasons. A heel restraint is also attached.
This system is preferred by some people for recreational boats, such as our Freedom boats, but can be
supplied on racing boats.
Seats and rails
All Swift boats use the same carbon seat tops to provide excellent stiffness while keeping
weight to a minimum. The undercarriage is made from nylon with the axles made from anodised
aluminium. Single action seats have sealed ball bearing wheels for a smooth movement and are
supplied as standard.
We use 3 different lengths of seat rail (820mm, 850mm, 880mm) depending on the average crew
weight of the boat. Seats are painted with clear paint to show the carbon cloth finish.
From Spring 2009 seat rails are made from hard anodised aluminium.
From Spring 2009, boats are supplied with bungees to hold seats steady during transport.
Fins and rudders
All Swift boats have easily replaceable anodised
aluminium fins, that are secured to the boat with an aluminium fin box. There are 4 sizes
of fin, one each for 1x, 2x/-, fours and eights.
Rudders are stainless steel, with the yoke being anodised aluminium.
Rudder wire is stainless steel.
Shoulders
All of our boats, from the cheapest to the most expensive, have carbon laminated shoulders.
Shoulders are the essential "bones" of a boat and maintain the shape of the hull. Together
with the riggers they ensure that all the force applied to the oars is translated directly
into boat speed, minimizing power loss through twisting and flexing.
Hatches and bungs
All our hatches and bungs are easily opened, but
secure, most sizes with rubber “O” rings. There is a hatch on the seat deck between
the seat rails, one for each rower. We have 3 sizes of hatch, and use the largest one
possible, depending on the boat type, and the hatch position.
From Spring 2009 the stern hatch is positioned over the fin/rudder. Putting the rudder
post under the stern canvas deck will avoid the damage that happens when an exposed rudder
post is accidentally knocked. The hatch is positioned over the rudder so that it is easy
to access the rudder to make adjustments, and also makes it easier to carry out repairs to
this area of the boat.
On the bow canvas deck is a small bung for drainage and air circulation.
Oarlocks
Swift boats are supplied with Concept II oarlocks as standard.