eight
Object Detail
Object Name
boat
Description
The Glass Casket
This prototype eight was designed by Luigi Colani for Karl Adam, coach of the Federal Republic of Germany's Olympic eight, in 1972. A one-piece titanium frame incorporating outriggers is covered by an opaque composite skin (expoxy, glass and carbon fibre), resulting in a very strong boat weighing only 65-70 kilograms, about 40 kilos less than the lightest eights then available.
Unconventional in every way, the boat proved very fast in a test, but was disabled by a fault in the seats which run on ballbearings on three tracks. It was never used, earning the nickname Glass Casket.
This prototype eight was designed by Luigi Colani for Karl Adam, coach of the Federal Republic of Germany's Olympic eight, in 1972. A one-piece titanium frame incorporating outriggers is covered by an opaque composite skin (expoxy, glass and carbon fibre), resulting in a very strong boat weighing only 65-70 kilograms, about 40 kilos less than the lightest eights then available.
Unconventional in every way, the boat proved very fast in a test, but was disabled by a fault in the seats which run on ballbearings on three tracks. It was never used, earning the nickname Glass Casket.
Accession No
1997.168
Collection
Rowing
Associated Date
1972
Associated Period
20th century
Associated Event
Olympic Games Munich, 1972
Date
1972