WinTech Competitor
WinTech Competitor 1x
The rowing club we’re associated with recently picked up a used WinTech Competitor 1x, and naturally I had to give it a try. Amazingly, this boat had only been rowed once or twice (!) before being put away for 10 (!!) years. The oarlocks looked brand new, and the boat had absolutely no dirt on it whatsoever. There’s an occasional scuff or scratch where someone must have scraped it while it was (presumably) hanging up. This was a killer find, people.
Looks and “Cool Factor”
The WinTech Competitor 1x is somewhat typical and common; they’re very popular for those who need a “1st” boat. Generally, you can see at least a few of these out on the water at any regatta. It features fairly high and wide gunwales, making the rower’s station feel fairly spacious and secure. The rigger is a tapered aluminum tube, resembling an airplane wing in profile for both aerodynamics and stiffness. Just to the stern of the aluminum wing rigger, there’s a couple indents on the outsides of the deck. I’m assuming this is done to increase stiffness, but it doesn’t hurt in the looks department either. The grip tape on the deck features the red WinTech “swoosh”, which is pretty neat detailing. Overall, it’s a tidy boat, but not what I would call exceptionally beautiful or unique.
Stiffness
In order to discuss stiffness we need to talk about WinTech’s boat selection. For many years now, they’ve been using the same Claus Filter design regardless of what boat you choose. The product range begins with the entry level Jr. Racer, the Competitor, International, Medalist, and the range-topping Cobra. So, if you buy a Competitor class single, you’re getting the same design and shape for the hull as if you bought a Cobra. This can be seen as a major boon for an entry level purchase, and is likely the reason these boats are so popular. Where the difference lies is in materials and construction. The Competitor is largely a fiberglass boat with some strategic uses of carbon fiber for reinforcement. This means it’s slightly heavier and softer than the range-topping offerings. In experience, there’s some noticeable give under hard strokes in both the hull and the foot stretcher. The “squishyness” is less noticeable in the hull, where there’s just a little bit of of a sensation of inefficiency, but it’s very apparent in the foot stretcher, which is also fiberglass. If there was one area the boat let me down, it was definitely here. Were it my own personal boat, this would be the first thing I would replace from the WinTech Parts Store. The rigger is a standard WinTech aluminum rigger, which is a good thing in this case. It’s the same (stern mounted) piece used throughout their product line, and it just works.
Handling
This is an easy boat to set up. I enjoyed doing some tricky drills in it, such as rowing on the square or the wink drill. The benefit of an easy setting boat is that you can focus more on bladework and less on handle heights or holding your core steady. In terms of steering, I would call it “medium” in its willingness to change direction, or conversely, to go straight. A boat that steers like this is a pretty good choice for head racing.
Comfort and Features
This is a relatively nice place to be in. Nothing is particularly glaring in terms of discomfort, although the seat tends to be a “can deal with it” to “hate it” sort of fit. The gold standard in this regard is undeniably a Croker seat, which is sizable and sex specific, but pricey. If the Croker seat is a 10/10, this seat would be a 5/10. Narrow hips seem to deal with it better. Otherwise, the slides are well placed with nice end caps, the foot stretchers are adjustable inside the boat, and there’s plenty of room for a lifejacket, water bottle, water shoes, etc. The lowest mounting point on the foot stretcher is a hexagon that seems meant to enable changing the angle of your feet. Frankly, I couldn’t get it to work well for me. It ended up introducing a lot of the aforementioned flex and didn’t seem to sit correctly in the mount. I’m not sure if I’m using it right, but good design means you shouldn’t need a manual or explanation to figure it out. Finally, I have to mention the single best feature WinTech has offered: Quick Release Riggers. While a bit finicky at first to get the system tweaked just right, it’s a sheer joy to use. Just drop the rigger onto the rails, push it forward into place, push each cam down and you’re done. I have heard that WinTech may have stopped selling this due to customers' frustrations in getting it dialed in, but I certainly hope they keep making and improving this system.
Price
I would argue that the WinTech Competitor represents the best “bang for the buck” of any boat out there, save for maybe a great deal on a used boat. For the money, you get an elite hull design, upgradable interior and features, great rigger and durable hull. The downside is that it’s just a little bit “flexy” and that it weighs a few pounds more than a pure carbon racing single. But as a first boat, you would be hard pressed to go wrong with one of these.
