Elite Racing Shells for Rowing | Side-by-Side Comparison

Shells

"Most boat builders are putting all their time into their eight. Pocock puts that kind of effort into every one of their boats. The K4 in particular has proven to be the fastest four on the market, and probably has been since its Olympic inception."

- Andy Derrick, University of Central Oklahoma Women's Rowing

Here’s our jargon-free, “Give it to Me Straight” guide to selecting a Pocock for your team:

Eights

	Construction	Hull Shape	Riggers	Weight	Ideal For
Hypercarbon Comp V8 $42,900	New technology for 2013. Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Expensive carbon fiber wing riggers that are lighter and stiffer. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards (with carbon wing riggers).	Elite level crews. Programs that take good care of equipment.
Hypercarbon V8 $36,900	Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Either expensive carbon fiber wing riggers that are lighter and stiffer, or aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards (with aluminum wing riggers).	Elite level crews. Programs that take good care of equipment.
Core V8 $29,900	Materials and construction methods optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable than carbon. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	10% Heavier	Competitive crews looking for a more durable alternative to the Hypercarbon V8, and also ideal as practice boats for teams racing in the Hypercarbon V8+ since it will feel the same to rowers. Club programs that want a competitive racing boat at a price that won’t break the bank.
Core E8 $32,000 (By special order only)	Materials and construction methods optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	The compromise: Easier to row than the Hypercarbon, slightly less stable than the C8. A very viable racing shell.	Stiffest, most durable side-mount rigger available. Adjust them once and don’t worry about them again.	8% Heavier	Competitive crews looking for a racing boat that they can use every day and still win in (without breaking the bank). Less skilled crews will find that they go faster in this boat since it’s easier to row.
Core C8 $32,000 (By special order only)	Same construction as the E8+.	Easy to set, easy to row. It has a wider hull shape that is stable, even in rough water. Ideal for beginners since they’ll advance more quickly and go faster in a stable boat.	Same riggers as the E8.	12% Heavier	Club programs, new teams, and novice rowers. You can (probably) run this boat into the dock and still row it tomorrow. Expect to get thousands and thousands of miles out of this boat.

Coxed Fours

	Construction	Hull Shape	Riggers	Weight	Ideal For
Hypercarbon K4+ $23,100	Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Either expensive carbon fiber wing riggers that are lighter and stiffer, or aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards.	Elite level crews. Programs that take good care of equipment.
Core K4+ $18,900	Materials and construction methods optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	Same hull shape as the Hypercarbon K4+.	Aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable than carbon. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	13% Heavier	Competitive crews looking for a more durable alternative to the Hypercarbon K4+, and also ideal as practice boats for teams racing in the Hypercarbon K4+ since it will feel the same to rowers.
Core C4+ Stern Cox $18,100 (By special order only)	Same construction as Standard Line K4+.	Easy to set, easy to row. It has a wider hull shape that is stable, and ideal for beginners since they’ll advance more quickly and go faster in a stable boat. Stern cox configuration only.	Stiffest, most durable side-mount rigger available. Adjust them once and don’t worry about them again.	15% Heavier	Club programs, new teams, and novice rowers. You can (probably) run this boat into the dock and still row it tomorrow. Expect to get thousands and thousands of miles out of this boat.

Quads & Straight Fours

	Construction	Hull Shape	Riggers	Weight	Ideal For
Hypercarbon K4-/x $23,400	Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Either expensive carbon fiber wing riggers that are lighter and stiffer, or aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards.	Elite level crews. Programs that take good care of equipment.
Core K4-/x $19,100	Materials and construction methods are optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	Same hull shape as the K4-/x.	Aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable than carbon. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	13% heavier.	Clubs looking for a racing boat that they can use every day and still win in (without breaking the bank).

Pairs & Doubles

	Construction	Hull Shape	Riggers	Weight	Ideal For
Hypercarbon K2-/x $12,500	Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Either expensive carbon fiber wing riggers that are lighter and stiffer, or aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards.	Elite level crews. Programs that take good care of equipment.
Core K2-/x $10,800	Materials and construction methods optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	Same hull shape as the Hypercarbon K2-/x.	Aluminum wings that are slightly heavier but more durable than carbon. Wing riggers offer more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	13% Heavier.	Clubs looking for a racing boat that they can use every day and still win in; colleges that use pairs/doubles for training and matrix selection. High value price that won’t break the bank.

Singles

	Construction	Hull Shape	Riggers	Weight	Ideal For
Hypercarbon K1x $8,900	Most advanced (and expensive) composite materials used in any racing shell in the world. Optimized for speed and stiffness.	More aggressive hull shape requires higher skill level to set and row, but is faster when rowed well.	Either expensive carbon fiber wing rigger that is lighter and stiffer, or aluminum wing that is slightly heavier but more durable. Wing rigger offers more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	Lightest weight permitted by international racing standards.	Elite level rowers. Rowers who take good care of equipment.
Core K1x $7,500	Materials and construction methods optimized for durability and long-term ruggedness. Heavier than Hypercarbon, but holds up better to hard use and abuse.	Same hull shape as the Hypercarbon K1x.	Aluminum wing that is slightly heavier but more durable than carbon. Wing rigger offers more stability and stiffness than side-mount riggers.	20% Heavier	Clubs looking for a racing boat that they can use every day and still win in (without breaking the bank). Ideal first single that will withstand a few bumps and still win races.