DUDLEY DIX YACHT DESIGN

Vision Single Wooden Rowing Shells

Vision Single scull cockpit

Low-Tech + high performance

~ Ultra modern hull concept

~ Strip wood construction

~ Strong & stiff

~ Fast & stable

~ Build with competent woodworker skills

Plans for amateur builders to suit weight groups from
Light to Ultra-Heavy

Developed from composite shells built by Slade Rowing

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I drew this basic design more than 20 years ago for construction in series as Vision Light and Vision Heavy racing shells for Slade Rowing. They were well ahead of the fleet in concept at that time and remain full-size very competitive to this day. Slade Rowing suffered from lack of funding and transport damage issues due to their distance from their main market, failing finacially in only a few years. Read more of the original concept.

I was asked to draw basic detailing to build the Vision Shells in strip wood construction by various people and eventually did so. Since then I have expanded the range into various weight ranges, starting with the same Light and Heavy models as the Slade Rowing boats but later adding versions targeted at particular weights. The range now comprises Light Single, 72kg, Medium Single, Heavy Single and Ultra-Heavy Single.

The drawings supplied to builders comprise lines, full-size patterns of all station moulds, the beds on which to build and construction sections, with greater detail for shaping the critical bow area. It is skinned over temporary station moulds, then glassed inside and outside. Internal carbon frames or thin plywood frames are fitted inside for stiffness. Cockpits and saxboards are fabricated from okoume plywood.

The boats shown in these photos are built by friends Peter Bowman and Owen Redhead in Australia, skinned with the very light indigenous timber paulownia and they are closing in on minimum legal weight as they develop their techniques. They are available to build to order and I can put anyone interested in contact with them to enquire about availability and pricing.

Paulownia is now grown in various countries as plantation timber, as a renewable resource. This includes USA.

I have also designed an carbon stern wing rigger to use on these designs, included with the drawings, or builders can use alternative riggers from other sources.

Vision wood racing shells.
Inside the work shed, with hull #1 at top & #2 partially-built below.

Vision wood racing shells.
Hull #2 in a cradle while they work on saxboards.

Vision wood racing shells.
Looking aft, these frames are 3mm plywood or could be carbon tapes.
The block is for the fin and will have a slot routed from the outside.

Vision wood racing shells.
From aft, looking toward the cockpit.

Vision wood racing shells.
Completed cockpit with experimental carbon rigger.

Vision wood racing shells.
Ready for rowing, looking forward.

Vision wood racing shells.
Ready for rowing, looking aft.

Vision wood racing shells.
First outings. These hulls run easily and produce a small rooster tail that is used as a training aid.

CHARACTERISTICS

Light Single

LOA 7.725m (25'4")

LWL 7.72m (25'4")

Hull beam 277mm (10.9")

Weight range 60-75kg (132-165lb)

72kg Single

LOA 7.725m (25'4")

LWL 7.72m (25'4")

Hull beam 270mm (10.6")

Target weight 72kg (159lb)

Medium Single

LOA 8.01m (26'3")

LWL 8.00m (26'3")

Hull beam 287mm (11.3")

Weight range 75-90kg (165-198lb)

Heavy Single

LOA 8.025m (26'4")

LWL 8.02m (26'4")

Hull beam 302mm (11.9")

Weight range 90-100kg (198-220lb)

Ultra-Heavy Single

LOA 8.645m (28'4")

LWL 8.64m (28'4")

Hull beam 324mm (12.77")

Weight range 100-125kg (220-275lb)

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This page was updated 10 August 2026