From Geelong to the World: Sykes Rowing Boats
Sykes is firmly committed to continuing its proud reputation for manufacturing all levels of rowing boats in Australia. We have been proudly making boats in Geelong, Victoria since 1966 and over that time have built a reputation for excellent quality, industry-leading design and technology, elite levels of performance, best-in-class functionality, innovation, and unrivalled durability. All Sykes boats are fitted out with proven Sykes fittings, engineered for optimal performance and the most comfortable biomechanical setup.
Our Australian-made range of hulls is consistently built to the highest quality standards and is fitted out with Sykes OEM fittings and parts, all of which are held in stock at our facility in Geelong. Whether the hulls are imported or domestically made, they are equipped with the same top-tier components, all fitted and customized in Geelong, ensuring enhanced performance and durability across our entire product range.
We have proven our capability as a worthy peer to any of the large global boat builders and, without a doubt, offer one of the best value propositions for rowing equipment in the sport of rowing globally. Using only the best raw materials and with a team of highly skilled boat builders, Sykes boats set the benchmark for value, longevity, and performance—from beginners to champions!
We offer four different types of hull construction in our Made in Australia range. The different hull constructions are summarized as follows:
|
INITIATOR |
ACCELERATOR |
CLASSIC |
ELITE |
| Exterior Surface |
Polyester Gelcoat |
Polyester Gelcoat |
2 pack automotive paint |
2 pack automotive paint |
| Outer Laminate |
Glass Fibre |
Glass Fibre and Woven Carbon |
Glass Fibre and Bi-Axial Carbon |
Glass Fibre and TexTreme® |
| Core |
Spheretex |
Nomex Honeycomb |
Nomex Honeycomb |
Nomex Honeycomb |
| Inner Laminate |
Glass Fibre |
Kevlar |
Kevlar |
Glass Fibre and TexTreme® |
| Resin |
Vinyl Ester (low temp.) |
Epoxy (low temp.) |
Epoxy (medium temp.) |
Epoxy (high temp.) |
| Reinforcements |
Glass Fibre |
Carbon |
High Modulus Carbon |
High Modulus Carbon |
| Manufacturing Process |
Infusion |
Wet Layup |
Wet Layup |
Hybrid Wet Layup (outer) and Pre-Preg (inner) |
The range is made up of an unrivalled complete range of hull shapes across all boat classes with as many as six different generations of mould shapes available. We offer the widest range of boats to suit each and every customer need, including some “old favourites” like the Mould 229, 213, 409, or 410 and the newest releases being the Moulds 467, 468, and 469.
The general naming convention for all Sykes hulls always uses three digits, each of which has a specific meaning. For example, Mould 242 means:
- 2 Person Boat
- 4th Generation hull shape
- Mould #2 in the series
At Sykes, we remain dedicated to delivering exceptional quality and performance in every boat we manufacture, ensuring that every rower, from novice to elite, can experience the best in rowing technology.
