About Our Rowing Boat Building
Behind the Boat
Rowing runs through the veins of SLRacing and we think the story behind a boat can be absolutely fascinating.
Below, Simon Lack - the SL in SL Racing - shares the story behind all our boats and how we became the best rowing boats manufacturers in New Zealand.
Below, Simon Lack - the SL in SL Racing - shares the story behind all our boats and how we became the best rowing boats manufacturers in New Zealand.
We’re a rowing boat manufacturer that set up shop in Hawkes Bay in 2010. It’s a family business, owned by myself and my brother Hamish. We built our own workshop at the bottom of our family section.
We love Hawkes Bay. It’s a beautiful part of the world and it seemed the natural choice when starting SL Racing. Boats are coming into New Zealand from all over the world now, and there isn’t that same need to be based in Cambridge as there used to be. By being in Hawkes Bay we can keep our overheads lower (which means more affordable boats), have access to a port for exporting, and utilise some of the forward thinking and smart manufacturing companies that are in the Bay. It’s also a lifestyle choice – with friends and family based here, we have an incredible support network that lets us focus on making a top quality product.
A lot of the rowing community knows that my boatbuilding career started with KIRS, but what they might not realise is that in 2009 I was looking to purchase that company. After 18 months of discussions, my offer was turned down, and in retrospect, that was the best thing that could have possibly happened. I realised that I wanted to start my own company and start producing boats that I could be proud of. I thought I could produce a better NZ made product than what was available, and do it for a lower price.
Hard work. We have built and paid for every part of SL Racing including moulds, machinery and infrastructure from boats we have either sold or repaired. When SL Racing opened it was just myself and Hamish working through very long hours to make sure the boats went out. Over the years we’ve been able to hire 3 full time employees, along with a few part timers and a great group of contractors who have specialties that assist us from mould making to engineering and RnD. With current growth rate it looks like we will need another two employees per year.
Because of the attention to detail, performance of our hulls and high quality continued service that we give to our clients.
Through using cutting edge technology SL Racing are able to ensure every boat that leaves our shed is made to the highest quality and standard. This accuracy in our processes also means lower overheads, keeping the price of our boats competitive. The end result is a racing skiff that lasts the test of time (we offer a 5 year hull warranty of every boat so you can be sure of that) and leads the pack in terms of boat speed, boat feel and technology.
We're also very proud in the long term service we provide our customers. When you buy an SL Racing boat, you aren't just buying a lightening fast skiff, you're also getting access to the ongoing servicing and advice we offer all our clients at regattas and throughout the season. You'll regularly find us on the river bank helping all comers, and making sure our clients boats are in tip top condition.
Finally, we are ex rowers, so that means we understand all the little details – what feels good, and what doesn’t, as a rower in a boat. We’re constantly investing in research and development to make both the little details and the overall boat better and faster. We will never rest on our laurels.
Through using cutting edge technology SL Racing are able to ensure every boat that leaves our shed is made to the highest quality and standard. This accuracy in our processes also means lower overheads, keeping the price of our boats competitive. The end result is a racing skiff that lasts the test of time (we offer a 5 year hull warranty of every boat so you can be sure of that) and leads the pack in terms of boat speed, boat feel and technology.
We're also very proud in the long term service we provide our customers. When you buy an SL Racing boat, you aren't just buying a lightening fast skiff, you're also getting access to the ongoing servicing and advice we offer all our clients at regattas and throughout the season. You'll regularly find us on the river bank helping all comers, and making sure our clients boats are in tip top condition.
Finally, we are ex rowers, so that means we understand all the little details – what feels good, and what doesn’t, as a rower in a boat. We’re constantly investing in research and development to make both the little details and the overall boat better and faster. We will never rest on our laurels.
It all starts with not being ‘showy’. The ‘head down, bum up’ approach is one that rowers throughout New Zealand bring to their training every day and we’ve brought that attitude into our business. We won’t post a photo of every boat we make because we have our focus on getting the next boat out, not patting ourselves on the back.
We like all our staff to ‘think smart’ about any issue they tackle in the workshop and have a very hard working ethic. We push them to be client focussed because we take pride in the fact that every boat that comes out of our sheds is a boat we would love to row ourselves. From day one we’ve always made sure we have a forward thinking approach to what we are doing. Along with constantly developing our boats, that also means we have made a huge investment in holding stock. Ultimately that comes at a big cost to us, but it means that we can build any boat at any time without waiting on suppliers.
We like all our staff to ‘think smart’ about any issue they tackle in the workshop and have a very hard working ethic. We push them to be client focussed because we take pride in the fact that every boat that comes out of our sheds is a boat we would love to row ourselves. From day one we’ve always made sure we have a forward thinking approach to what we are doing. Along with constantly developing our boats, that also means we have made a huge investment in holding stock. Ultimately that comes at a big cost to us, but it means that we can build any boat at any time without waiting on suppliers.
Right now we’re focussed on two things – improving our service to our current clients, while expanding our sales both in New Zealand and overseas. We’ve just hired travelling reps in both the North and South Island to make sure that if a client has something that needs attention, we have someone that can come to them and provide that one on one support we think is so important. On a global scale, our Australian and American sales reps are just getting into the swing of things and over time we will slowly look to expand into overseas markets. We’ve adopted a slow and managed approach to expansion, and whenever we do grow we always want to make sure the service to our current clients is a priority. A recent goal we have set ourselves is to make sure we have SL Racing boats being rowed by top international athletes at the next Olympics. We know our boats are quick, so we’re now just in the process of identifying the right talent to represent SLR on the international stage.
Yes, two big ones – thank you. Starting any business is a risk, and without the rowing community getting in behind us we wouldn’t be where we are today. We’ll always be hugely grateful for every new client we get, and every smile we see when someone hops into our boats. When it comes down to it, we started SL Racing because we love this sport. It gives us so much pride seeing an athlete grinning when they get out of one of our boats, and that’s what makes this company tick. So, to everyone that has been involved in our journey, THANK YOU…and to any that are yet to experience the SL Racing difference, we look forward to meeting you!
Simon Lack (owner)
As an age group New Zealand rowing representative, Simon moved up to the hub of training in New Zealand - Cambridge - early in his rowing career. While rowing his way to Elite National titles, Simon continued his passion into a profession - learning the boat building trade while immersed in training at Karapiro.
In 2010, Simon decided to take a higher quality approach to boat building into his own business. SL Racing was born and since that date Si personally builds or oversees the build of every boat that comes out of the SLR factory. With such a lengthy rowing career at every level of racing he understands what a rower wants in a boat, and importantly, what a club and school needs in their boatshed.
Contact Simon: simon@slracing.co.nz
Hamish Lack (owner)
Like most of the Lack family, Hamish started his water sport journey at Hawkes Bay Rowing Club but quickly found his way into the kayaking scene as well. An civil engineer by training, Hamish brings an analytical mind and trusty set of hands to the SL Racing sheds. When he isn't on the shop floor, you'll find Hamish in the SLR offices making sure the company ticks by day to day, or behind the lens of a camera - exploring his love of photography.
Keeping it in the family and bringing in the thought process of an engineer has been invaluable to SL Racing as it grows internationally. Hamish will be the first to push innovation within SLR and that means our boats stay at the front of the field and best in class.
Contact Hamish: hamish@slracing.co.nz
As an age group New Zealand rowing representative, Simon moved up to the hub of training in New Zealand - Cambridge - early in his rowing career. While rowing his way to Elite National titles, Simon continued his passion into a profession - learning the boat building trade while immersed in training at Karapiro.
In 2010, Simon decided to take a higher quality approach to boat building into his own business. SL Racing was born and since that date Si personally builds or oversees the build of every boat that comes out of the SLR factory. With such a lengthy rowing career at every level of racing he understands what a rower wants in a boat, and importantly, what a club and school needs in their boatshed.
Contact Simon: simon@slracing.co.nz
Hamish Lack (owner)
Like most of the Lack family, Hamish started his water sport journey at Hawkes Bay Rowing Club but quickly found his way into the kayaking scene as well. An civil engineer by training, Hamish brings an analytical mind and trusty set of hands to the SL Racing sheds. When he isn't on the shop floor, you'll find Hamish in the SLR offices making sure the company ticks by day to day, or behind the lens of a camera - exploring his love of photography.
Keeping it in the family and bringing in the thought process of an engineer has been invaluable to SL Racing as it grows internationally. Hamish will be the first to push innovation within SLR and that means our boats stay at the front of the field and best in class.
Contact Hamish: hamish@slracing.co.nz
