What are the different types of dragon boats and what's the differences between different makes of dragon boats?
Weight, length, and width?

and for those who have paddled in different boats, which one do you guys prefer?

First let's establish a list of the type of boats.
These are ones that I have paddled in.

GWN BuK
I believe that the design stems from Schwerin Germany. Mike Kerkmann builds them here also, I think.
Higher sides, fairly stable, mostly flat bottom with small 45 degree sides. Nice to steer. Some have a wood trim top and some have no trim at all.

Simon River
I cannot remember anything noteworthy, similar to GWn

Plastek Polish boats
Comes from Poland. The seats break frequently. Steering area very narrow.

TCBA boats
The sides are lower to the water than GWN. Easier to paddle in but can be flooded very fast. Boat bottom is not so flat as GWN.
Foot rest was a piece of wood that ran across.

Teak boats
These were first used when I started to paddle in Toronto. VERY VERY heavy.

Ramsays
Light boats that are pretty nice. Very similar to GWN. Steering area small. Drum is not made from leather. Foot rests are little bumps.

False Creek 6/16
Thwart in the middle with fins on it. Very heavy especially if barnacle have attached themselves. First boats to Canada in 198?

Montreal Lego boats
Big, heavy boat that are like ice cube trays in that each seat has its own compartment.

Two halfs screwed together boats
Seats 3 and 8 have a solid wall instead of the footrest as other seats.


That's all I know.

GO Rowing and Paddling Association
Millenium, built on Vancouver Island.
Fiberglass body, true W-hull (instead of the canoe rounded bottoms) which increases steering stability. 12 seats. Foot cut-out of centre board for steerer, but can cut feet. Stable seat & drum placement for drummer (compared to Gemini & BuK). Two pegs at different length and heights for better comfort for paddlers, but have tendency to break over a season (fiberglass repair). In comparison to Gemini, they have greater space for those who have long legs and wide hips. Smaller paddlers seem to fit well and the front and back of the boat.

Finally, they are a training boat (ie. you can have inexperienced steerers crash into each other and the docks with only scratches, which is more than I can say about the BuK).

Heavier than BuK (yes, we lifted them out of the water to clean the barnacles - damn the ocean). For more info: Go Row and Paddle

In Canada we really only use the german BUK and the Canadian made SRS boats. New BUKs are very good. Older ones are heavier and a bt slower. SRS boats are a little bit lighter but ultimately the same in design. Some of the SRS boats had constantly breaking seats a couple of years ago, but are now better. I like the SRS boats to paddle in because I'm used to them and I like the foothold.

I liked the boats in China. Fit short paddlers very well. 12 seats , sides didn't flair out as much.Very comfortable , no hip cramp.
BUKs are German design and fit big paddlers well , which makes sense besause the Germans all seem to be HUGE.Can be unfomfortable for short paddlers.
SRS are good if the finish is okay.
Chinese style boats seem to reward a high stroke rate , which is what best Chinese teams do.
European style boats like BUK allow power and glide to work.

how about the Geminis, 6/16, gwn buks and srs boats?
the first poster mentioned stability, have you guys noticed a difference in stability between dragon boats and how different techniques are more fitting for specific boats?

from your guy's experience, what have you found?

Of course the BUK's are the cream of the crop but don't discount the Mexican boats we use at the OHDBC. They've been in use at the club for two seasons and they are totaly solid. I honestly think if someone was actually selling them out here you'd see allot more of them.