Equipment Jargon and Other Terms

Blades - the wide flat section of the oar at the head of the shaft. The two types of blades are called hatchets and spoons.

Boat - the collection of rowers (the crew) that row a shell. An empty shell is not properly referred to as a “boat,” though they are used interchangeably.

Button - a plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oak to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

Cox Box - the small electronic communications device used by the cox to communicate with rowers in the boat and to check the rate at which the rowers are taking strokes. A new cox box costs about $750.

Crab – “Catching a crab” refers to a problem encountered by a rower when his or her or get stuck in the water, usually right after the catch or just before the release. Improper squaring or feathering usually causes it. The momentum of the shell can overcome the rower’s control of the oar. In extreme cases, the rower can actually be ejected from the shell by the oar.

Crew - rowing team. Using the term “crew team” is redundant. The nine people, a crew, when placed in a shell are called “a boat”.

Ergometer - also called an “erg”, is a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion and is used primarily when we cannot get on the water. The verb, to erg means to work out on an ergometer. An erg piece is a particular set of work on the ergometer, such as rowing 2000 meters. Coaches to ascertain and athletes aerobic and endurance capabilities use erg tests. There is even a world indoor rowing championship event called C. R. A. S. H. -B., held annually in Boston. Erg scores are also the competitive gauge used by us rowing to form national teams.

Foot stretcher - an adjustable bracket mounted into a shell in which the rower's feet are secured in an attached sneaker or similar footwear.

Gunwale (pronounced gunnel) - the top section of the sides of the shell, which run along the sides of the boat where the rowers are located. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.

Keel - the centerline of the shell. “Good balance” or a “balanced boat” is where the shell is rowed with little or no continual dipping to either port or starboard.

Oar - the piece of equipment, which each rower uses to propel the shell. In sweep rowing, each ore is approximately 12 feet long.

Oarlock - A U-shaped swivel, which holds the oar in place. It is mounted at the end of the rigger and rotates around a metal pin.

Power 10 - a set of strokes when the crew makes an extra effort to “get everything on the oar” and to make a shell go faster. A coxswain can also call a power 15 or 20. Use an erase to try and gain a tactical advantage over other crews.

Pressure - the amount of effort a rower puts into the stroke. Races, of course, are conducted at full pressure, but practices and warm-ups may entail a series of strokes at half or three-quarter pressure.

Rating - the number of strokes per minute (SPM). Also known as the stroke rating.

Ratio - The ratio of the recovery time to the drive time. The recovery time should always be longer than the drive time.

Regatta - Any rowing event involving competition. Any race is a regatta, however large or small. Races are never called “meets” or “games” and rowers do not “play crew” or “go crewing”. a popular cruise slogan is “Athletes row. Everyone else plays games.”

Rigger - the device that connects the oarlock to the shell and is bolted to the body of the shell.

Rigging - the adjustment and alteration of accessories in and on the shell.

Rudder -steering device at the stern. The rudder is connected by cables called tiller ropes and is used by the coxswain to steer the shell.

Set - The balance and feel of the boat. The most efficient boats are balanced evenly over the centreline and remain so throughout the strokes. If rowers are not aligned properly, or a rower swing off center as part of his or her motion during a stroke, or if rowers on one side of the boat are pooling with more or less force than the other side, the set of the boat can be altered, introducing drag into its motion. “A set boat is a fast boat.”

Skeg (or fin) - a small fin located along the stern section of the hull. This helps stabilize the shell in holding a true course when rowing. All racing shells have a skeg. The skeg should not be confused with a rudder.

Slide (or track) - two tracks on which the seat moves. The rowers seat moves forward and backward on the slide.

Slings – Collapsible, portable frames with straps upon which a shell can be temporarily placed period used for rigging and de-rigging the boats.

Swing – The inexpressible “feel” of a boat that is moving together as a single unit.

Rowing Cycle – (from Drive to Catch)

Drive – The part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies poser to the oar. This is a more or less blended sequence of applying power primarily with a leg drive, then the back and finally the arms.

Finish - The last part of the drive before the release where the power is mainly coming from the back and arms.

Release - A sharp downward (and away) motion of the hand, which serves to remove the oar blade from the water and start the rowing cycle.

Feathering - The act of turning the oar blade from a position perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position parallel to the water. This is done in conjunction with the release.

Recovery – Part of the rowing cycle from the release up to and including where the oar blade enter the water.

Squaring – A gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position parallel to the water to a position (almost) perpendicular to the surface of the water. This is accomplished during the recovery portion of the rowing cycle and is done in preparation for the catch.