STÄMPFLI – THE ORIGINAL RACING HULL
As the oldest operating rowing hull manufacture in the world, the story of Stämpfli Racing Boats is a long and prestigious one. Over a century ago in 1896, Johann Friedrich August Stämpfli created the company and brand in Zurich Switzerland. Today the Stämpfli name remains synonymous performance, quality and durability.
Origins of Stämpfli
As the oldest operating rowing hull manufacture in the world, the story of Stämpfli Racing Boats is a long and prestigious one. Over a century ago in 1896, Johann Friedrich August Stämpfli created the company and brand in Zurich Switzerland. The first hulls produced were fishing boats and sailing yachts, but the company quickly evolved and produced its first rowing racing hull in 1898. After the success of their first rowing hull, Stämpfli continued to forge ahead leading the industry in hull design, materials exploration, and construction.
Development of Materials
Over the next few decades new materials and composites came into fashion as boat builders began experimenting with new technologies. Composite materials offered boat manufactures the ability to produce a new array of hulls, which were lighter, stiffer, and more durable than their wooden counterparts. The rowing world began to make a sudden shift towards composite boats as their benefits became obvious.
Stämpfli & Janousek
In 1992, Janousek, a British boat-building manufacturer, bought a controlling stake in Stämpfli Racing Boats in Switzerland and in 1998 rescinded the controlling stake for the rights to build all composite Stämpfli boats. Today, all composite Stämpfli racing hulls are built in Byfleet, Surrey in the United Kingdom.
Stämpfli & Durham Boat Co.
Durham Boat Company and the Dreher brand have had a longstanding relationship with the Janousek/Stämpfli and in 2016 decided to combine forces and reintroduce Stämpfli Racing Boats back to U.S. waters.