Parts of the Rowing Boat

Parts and descriptions

Below is a list of terms which you will find most people will use to describe the rowing boat. I have included a brief description of what each part is and what it is used for.

  • The Stern - This is the back of the rowing boat, the stern is easily identified by the fin that is on the underside of the boat.
  • The Bow - This is the front of the rowing boat. The bow is easily identified by the rubber ball at its tip and usually a small piece of plastic which is the lane number holder. It is vital that the ball is securely in place as without it the boat resembles a spear and can be extremely dangerous.
  • Stroke Side - When sitting in the boat this is the athlete’s right hand side.  For a coach following in a speed boat it is their left hand side.
  • Bow Side - This is the athlete’s left hand side when sitting in the rowing boat and the following coach's right hand side.
  • The Fin - The fin is found at the stern of the boat on the underside and is usually made out of metal or carbon fibre. The fin ensures that the boat travels in a straight direction. When a boat is unstable and not steering straight looking at the fin is a good place to start when in search of the problem.
  • The Rigger  - This is the part of the boat which attaches the Gates and Oars to the side or the top of the rowing boat. There are many different types of designs of rigger. Two of the most common riggers are the side mount riggers and the wing riggers. Wing riggers are more commonly found on a single scull and the side mounted riggers are more commonly found on larger boats, although there are a number of exceptions
  • The Gate – The gate is commonly made of black plastic and when fastened closed (done up) is shaped like a square. The role of the gate is to attach the oar to the rigger in a way which prevents the oar from coming loose. The gate is attached to the rigger by a metal pin which is perhaps unsurprisingly called “The Pin”.
  • The Pin – This small metal rod usually attached to the top outermost part of the rigger by a large nut which is done up from underneath. The gate then slides onto the pin and can be adjusted by height washers or rings. At the top is another nut, this nut is a locking nut which when tightened holds the gate and height washers in place. (A locking nut has a plastic inner lining which prevents the nut from coming undone over time).
  • The Foot Stretcher Apparatus – The foot stretcher apparatus is my way of saying everything which attaches the feet to the boat. Therefore the parts are the attachment points, foot stretcher, foot plate, shoes and shoe tiedowns. There are typically 3 attachment points, 2 on the sides of the boat and one in the bottom of the boat. When assembling the foot stretcher it is important to do it in the right order or you will most likely have to redo your steps.  
  • The Shoes - attach to the foot plate with screws which screw into the bottom of the shoes. The Foot plate then attaches to the foot stretcher, the foot stretcher then attaches to the boat.  The heels of the shoes must be tied down to the foot stretcher for safety. This step can be performed at any time but is easier to do before the foot stretcher is attached to the boat.
  • The Slides – The slide or slides of the boat are half pipe rods which the seat rolls along when the athlete is rowing. The slides are attached by 4 wing-nuts which are on the inside of the rowing boat. The slides must be in equal and tightened before rowing. If not correctly done up they may become undone and make rowing difficult.
  • The Seat – The seat of the rowing boat has 4 wheels attached to the bottom of it. These wheels sit in the groove of the slides. The wheels should be tightly fastened to the base of the seat so as not to come loose while rowing.
  • The Bung – The bung is made of rubber or plastic with a rubber ring. The role of the bung is to make the inside of the boat water tight in case the boat is swamped or capsizes. For this reason it is important to make sure that the bung is correctly fitted before taking the boat out on the water. If you have to adjust the slide you may need to remove the bung to undo the wing-nuts. If the bung is not replaced the boat is vulnerable to sinking in the event of a capsize or swamping.
  • The Splashboard – This is the lip that separates the area where the athlete sits from the bow of the boat. This splashboard helps prevent waves which come over the bow from filling up the boat where the athletes sit. 
  • The Bow Ball – The bow ball helps stop damage to your boat and whatever you crash into.
  • The Lane Number Holder – The Lane number holder is a small black piece of plastic which attaches to the bow of the rowing boat next to the bow ball. The number holder has a small groove where a lane number will fit tightly during a race.