Equipment terms:

Oar

The piece of equipment that each rower uses to propel the boat. In sweep rowing, each oar is approximately 12 feet long, lightweight and well designed.

Blade

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

Hatchets

These oar blades have a bigger surface area than the standard or spoon blades and have a hatchet or meat cleaver shape.

Shell

The racing boat. Shells come in configurations and sizes for single rowers, pairs, fours, and eights. An eight is approximately 60 feet long, narrow (about two feet wide at its widest point), and weighs about 280 pounds.

Scull

A shell configured so that each rower uses two oars. This term is also used interchangeably when referring to the oars used in a sculling shell, the shell itself, or to the act of rowing a sculling shell.

Sweep

A shell configured so that each rower has one oar. Oars on a sweep shell are normally alternated from side to side.

Foot Stretcher

Adjustable brackets in a shell to which the rower’s feet are secured in attached sneakers or similar footwear.

Rigger

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

Oarlock

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

Button

A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

Slide (or Track)

Two tracks on which the seat moves. The seat moves forward and backward on the slide, enabling the rower to compress his or her body at the start of the stroke and then use the combined power of the legs, back, and arms when actually executing the stroke.

Gunwale

Top section on the sides of a shell hull. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.

Keel

The centerline of the shell. The term refers to the extent to which the boat is balanced from side to side while rowing. A “good keel” is where the shell is rowed with little or no continual dipping to port or starboard.

Rudder

Steering device at the stern. The rudder is connected to cables (tiller ropes) that the coxswain uses to steer the shell.

Skeg (or Fin)

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

Rigging

The configuration of accessories (riggers, foot stretchers, oars, etc) in and on the shell. Examples of rigging adjustments that can be made are the height of the rigger, location of the foot stretchers, location and height of the oarlocks, location of the button on the oar and the pitch of the blade of the oar.

Slings (or Boat Slings)

Collapsible/portable frames with straps upon which a shell can be placed temporarily.

Rowing stroke cycle terms:

Stroke

One complete cycle of the oar through and above the water. It is also used as a term referring to the stern-most rower who sits nearest the coxswain.

Catch

The start of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters the water. It is accomplished by an upward motion of the arms. The blade of the oar must be fully squared at the Catch.

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.

Release

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

Recovery

Part of the rowing cycle from the Release up to and including where the oar blade enters the water.

Squaring

A gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position parallel to the water to a position perpendicular to the surface of the water. This is accomplished during the Recovery portion of the stroke cycle and is done in preparation for the Catch.

Drive

That part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power 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.

Rating

The number of strokes per minute. Also known as Stroke Rate.

Crab

“Catching a Crab” refers to a problem encountered by a rower when his or her oar gets “stuck” in the water, usually right after the Catch or just before the Release, and is caused by improper squaring or feathering. 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.

Other Terms of Interest:

Bow

The forward end of the shell.

Stern

The rear end of the shell.

Port

The left side of the shell when facing the bow. In sweep rowing, the designation of a rower who normally rows with an oar on the port side.

Starboard

The right side of the shell when facing the bow. In sweep rowing, the designation of a rower who normally rows with an oar on the starboard side.

Coxswain (or Cox, or Cox’n)

The person who sits at the stern of the shell (although this may be in the bow of some 4s), steers, gives commands, calls the ratings, and urges the rowers on in a race. A knowledgeable coxswain will generally serve as an “onsite / in-the-shell” assistant to the coach. Usually light in weight, a good coxswain will have as much competitive spirit as the rowers and can make a considerable difference in a race.

The Stroke

The rower sitting nearest the stern (and the coxswain). The stroke is responsible for setting the stroke length and cadence for the rest of the crew, following the commands and encouragement of the coxswain.

Check

Any abrupt deceleration of the shell caused by some uncontrolled motion within the shell; an interruption in the forward motion of the shell. Also used as a command (“check it!”) to stop a shell as fast as possible by jamming the blades into the water as brakes.

Course

A straight racecourse for rowers that normally has 6 lanes. In high school, the course length is 1500 meters, while in college and Olympic events; the course length is 2000 meters.

Cox Box

A small electronic device, which aids the coxswain by amplifying his or her voice, and which gives a readout of important information such as stroke count.

“Way-Enough”

Actually sounds like “way-nuff”. This is the coxswain’s call to have all rowers stop rowing and let the boat come to a stop.

“Row Easy” or “Paddle”

A command to use very light strokes to move the boat through the water at a slow speed. Usually used when approaching a dock.

For More Information...

More rowing terms can be found at the Wikipedia Rowing Terms page.