Handbook: Boat-handling and set-up for beginners

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Boat Handling for Beginners

Rowing equipment is pretty expensive and can seem unwieldy. Please follow these rules to minimise the chances of damaging either it or yourself:

  • When lifting a boat off racks, be very careful not to hit the hull on the riggers above or allow its riggers to hit the boat below.
  • Move slowly when carrying boats in and out of the boathouse and take care to avoid any collisions.
  • Only pick the boat up under the stepping pad, by both saxboards or by special lifting bars. Never pick the boat up by the footplate, the riggers, diagonal wooden stays or any other part of the decking.
  • Do not carry boats only by the ends of the hull – support the boat at the middle. If two people are carrying a small boat (single, double/pair) they should hold it ~1m in from each end.
  • Only place feet on the stepping pad, usually marked by a slip-proof patch (shown in light blue in the diagram below). Never step on the slides. Avoid bringing dirt into the boat by taking your shoes off before stepping in.
  • Clean slides with water and a soft cloth, ideally before/after each outing. A dirty slide detracts from the rowing experience and will increase wear. Clean seat wheels if a clean slide still feels uneven.
  • It is important to keep seat wheels clean. If seats are removed when transporting boats, tape seats together, transport them with care (ideally in a bag in a car boot rather than in the trailer bed where damage is more likely) and NEVER put the wheels on the ground or any other surface where they could collect grit.
  • Place boats carefully on the racks, noting alignment marks. Push racks in gently so that if there is any obstruction you can feel it before damage is done.
  • Wipe down boats after use, or wash and then dry off excess water.
  • Beware: a boat is very long and can easily swing round and hit something – keep an eye on the ends of the boat as you carry it.
  • Only use trestles that are in a fit state of repair and that are suitable for the type of boat you are using.
    • For an VIII, put the trestles underneath the 2-seat and the 7-seat; for a IV put them underneath stroke’s and bow’s seats. For smaller boats, the trestles go under the canvases.
  • If you need to leave a boat on an outside storage rack it must be secured with at least two strong safety lines or straps.
  • If road transit is required, boats must be suitable secured with strong safety lines or straps; if carrying a boat on a roof rack there must be safety line or strap running from the front of the boat to the tow ring or bumper at the front of the vehicle.

The last three points are requirements of the club’s insurance and must be observed to ensure the cover is valid. You are encouraged to read at least the “Clauses applicable to Section 1” part of the insurance policy to understand your responsibilities.

What’s in a name?

Ever wondered about the origins of boat names? Check out this list. If you have suggestions for new boat names, please let a member of the committee know.

Day-to-day boat adjustments

The diagram below introduces the simple day-to-day adjustments that you may need to make to the boat. There may be times when significant changes to rigging are required; these should only be made with permission from either the Equipment Officer, your Squad Leader or the Club Captain.

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