Space Saving and Club Advice

To us, rowing isn’t just something we enjoy during our spare time. We breathe, live and talk rowing. That’s why we relate so much to all the stories found in this book: Rowing Tales.

Rowperfect UK recently compiled this collection of over 40 stories from rowers of all ages and from all around the world. A few inspiring contributors include Olympic gold medalists:

• Andrew Triggs-Hodge
  
• Drew Ginn
  
• Xeno Muller
  

These are real-life stories that will make you laugh, cry and anguish with the authors.

It is the perfect gift you can get for your friends, family or yourself! Explore these stories together and reflect on the good and bad times of rowing.

If you’re interested, you can order through Rowperfect UK or Amazon.

We hope you enjoy this book as much as we did!

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It’s industrial meets chic. It’s function meets design. It’s concrete meets nature. The boathouse in the spotlight today is a building that was constructed under Berlin’s oldest sports club, TiB.

The project of this unique boathouse, the design brainchild of German architect, Oliver Mang, commenced in 2014. Along the banks of Berlin’s Spree river, you’ll spot a peek of cold concrete amongst lush green trees. It definitely looks out of place in such a serene environment, but you’ll find that the bottom layer of the boathouse sports walls constructed of translucent polycarbonate panels.

http://www.uncubemagazine.com/sixcms/media.php/1323/thumbnails/WSZ%20Detail%20Fassade%20St%C3%BCtzen_Bienert.jpg.2129817.jpgFrom the outside, the rowing and canoeing vessels stacked up within are just a beautiful blur of colours. “When I looked at historic boathouses, I wondered why they all hide their main feature away: the boats,” Oliver Mang says, reflecting on his architectural decisions.

The semi-opaque walls create a floaty, magical and bright environment on the inside ground floor of the building, where all the boats are kept. The polycarbonate material holds up well against sun exposure, protecting the boats inside whilst also providing insulation when needed.

The interior design of this industrial building was developed with both budget and functionality in mind. The minimalism to the whole structure may mean the building looks somewhat unfinished, but that’s just so the interior can be adapted to the needs of whoever uses the building. Other levels house training facilities, offices, fitness clubs, a sauna and even guest apartments, with walls that can be removed and restructured. These levels were designed to offer ventilation and insulation, so that expenses are minimal during winter and summer months.

To keep within the budget, club members helped out where they could, in areas that didn’t require specific technical skills. Heavy lifting, painting, furnishing – it means this building is as much a part of the club members as it is for the rowing community.

Certainly, from both the water and the street, this building stands as an impressive, funky and curious object. Curves of concrete in places typically angular, such as around the base of the stairs, make this building a trendy addition along the bank of Spree.

http://www.uncubemagazine.com/sixcms/media.php/1323/thumbnails/WSZ%20FassadeOst_mang.jpg.2129853.jpg

Want to see other buildings that have been featured in our boathouse spotlight? We think you’ll like the Eleanor Boathouse!

Sources:

http://www.uncubemagazine.com/blog/12191851

http://m-arc.de/353/

https://www.archdaily.com/481460/water-sports-centre-oliver-mang-architekten

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This might surprise you, but we love rowing at SSRS. It’s our passion for getting out on the water that led us to design and manufacture boathouse storage solutions, after all.

From businesses like ourselves to competitive rowers, we all caught the rowing bug from somewhere – and it’s kept us coming back for more.

If you’re considering getting into rowing, here are three excellent reasons to do so as soon as possible.

1. It’s a fantastic exercise
   

It won’t surprise anyone that rowing is a good way to work out, get fitter and potentially lose weight, but did you know exactly how great it is?

Even at a steady pace, Live Strong estimates that you burn around 500 calories with an hour of rowing – a quarter of what an average woman consumes in a day, and a fifth of what men require. By comparison, a leisurely bike ride will burn around 360.

So if you’re looking to work those muscles, build strength, work in some fantastic cardio and have fun along the way, rowing is a great option.

A cox toss, image courtesy of row2k.com

1. It could lift your mood
   

Life in 2017 can be pretty stressful, with busy work schedules and other responsibilities infamous for piling up. It’s no wonder some people feel stressed and anxious throughout the day.

But exercise is credited with improving your mood through the release of chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. That sense of well-being you get coming out of the gym? It’s your brain rewarding itself for a job well done.

As an exercise, rowing is perfect for burning a few calories, but it’s also a catalyst for your body releasing these feel-good chemicals. It’s credited with helping people sleep better at night by reducing their levels of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as leading to a boost in their long-term memory. It’s called “rower’s high”, and we encourage you to try it out!

1. It’s a great way to be social
   

Rowing clubs are often a tight-knit group. Whether you’re rowing alone and gathering stories to share about your favourite routes or rowing equipment, in tandem or with potentially dozens of others in a dragon boat, there’s a unique bond that’s made between people with similar interests all pulling in the same direction.

You can also see some pretty incredible sights from the water, which gives you great memories to share with your friends and family – whether that’s inside your rowing club or outside of it.

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Does your boathouse look like it could be featured in a magazine? Upon walking inside, do you think visitors will want to fill their social media feeds with photos tagged with #AestheticArchitecture of #BeautifulBoathouse?

You may not reach that level of organisation (we’re being honest here!), but it might be time to revamp your boathouse storage solutions to be something a little more… orderly.

The interior of a boathouse plays a very important part in the day-to-day running of a rowing club. However, it also impacts the reputation of your club. Do you know what the boathouse says about your rowing club?

Beautiful lines inside Chicago’s WMS Boathouse by Studio Gang

1. It advertises your rowing club

Your boathouse is one of the biggest advertising assets your club has. If potential new members come to take a look at your boathouse, will the interior proudly showcase all your rowing equipment in a neat and orderly manner?

As first impressions are so important, a quick glance can show aspiring club members almost everything your club has to offer. Do they want to know if your club is passionate about dragon boating? Can they tell how big your club is by the amount of equipment you store? Or perhaps there is a leaky roof that hasn’t been fixed since last winter? All these can make or break their decisions when it comes to signing up for a club membership.

Even if they may not join, someone that has seen your boathouse may be impressed enough to recommend it to others!

2. It tells them what your club management is like

If there is no one around to dictate that all equipment be stored neatly, it definitely says a little something about the management of a boathouse. Part of efficient management involves many of a rowing club, and this includes the storage situation.

3. It shows the amount of respect that members have for the equipment

Keeping things orderly inside a boathouse shows that the club members are respectful of the rowing equipment they use. We all know that the cost of rowing gear can be quite a lot!

Chaos inside a boathouse can not only damage expensive and delicate equipment but could also injure rowers. Singles are an average eight metres long, and that’s weighing in at least 14 kilograms. As for 8-person sweep boats, think 20 metres! Both handling and storing these boats with care says a lot about the level of safety standards of a rowing club.

Talk storage with SSRS!

You may already have an orderly storage system set up in your boathouse, but there is always room for improvement. If you want some advice, need to renovate or just would like a bit more space in your boathouse, speak to the team at SSRS.

We’re experts in this area and can provide innovative solutions best tailored to your boathouse.

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Recently opened in late 2016, the Eleanor Boathouse is part of an ecological renewal of the once neglected and polluted Chicago River. It is one of two boathouses on the river designed by Studio Gang.

The Eleanor Boathouse is composed of two buildings:

• A heated training centre spanning 5,800 square feet, that can hold up to 57 rowing machines.
  
• A 13,000 square foot storage building with a capacity of over 60 boats and also includes a rowing office, boat repair bay, and lockers.
  

The infrastructure of these two buildings mimics a rower’s motion with its angular pointed rooftops. Its large green-tinted windows face south, so they can bring in lots of natural sunlight – perfect for warming the cooler months with minimal energy consumption. There’s also an outside floating launch dock where people can watch the races!

http://studiogang.com/img/bkd5REZoWHM3dUxuaVBTb3lCVUhYQT09/1141-eleanor-boathouse-c-tom-harris-photography-02.jpg

The Eleanor Boathouse during winter.

Several rowing teams and clubs utilise the facilities here at the Eleanor Boathouse, including the Chicago Training Centre, St. Ignatius High School, and Lincoln Park Boat Club, amongst many more. The Park District hopes to expose people to the sport of rowing and complement Chicago’s communities. To help this, the boathouse provides classes and day camp programs.

All in all, the team here at Space Saving Rowing Systems thinks this has to be one of the most unique boathouses we’ve seen in our time! Passerbys may not see it as a boathouse at first glance, which only goes to show that you can have a beautiful design for your boathouse without compromising on practicality.

If you are in the process of developing a new boathouse, or simply upgrading your existing one, don’t forget to check out some of the great advice we have on our Boathouse Redevelopment page!

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Club – a gathering of people that all share a common interest. When it comes to a rowing club, you know that you are surrounded by awesome (oar-some?), like-minded people.

However, bonding doesn’t necessarily come easily. People may be shy, new members are constantly joining or perhaps age differences get in the way?

Either way, it’s important that rowing club managers are constantly seeking to encourage a good sense of community between each and every member.

Here are three ideas!

Rowing club members come in all shapes and sizes, hence why a sense of community is so important.

1) Bear an open mind to fundraising ideas

Most clubs rely on fundraising costs to keep up with running expenses, buying new equipment or refurbishing the boathouse.

Regattas are the typical route to take, by charging people an entry fee and hosting a fun day of friendly competition, but, that’s not the only way you can fundraise.

You can markup the cost of small, useful products with your club name to sell and raise awareness, and host events that’ll get everyone in the boat club involved. This also makes each member feel like they are contributing to the day-to-day running of the club, so any ideas, not just fundraising, should be taken on board with an open mind. Perhaps they have a better suggestion on how to store paddles in the boathouse? Or know of a popular fundraising product that’ll sell hot off the shelves?

Either way, boat clubs will have people with many fascinating talents and skills, so keeping an open suggestion box of club ideas can help to give everyone a voice that’ll be heard.

2) Host social activities

A rowing club doesn’t have to only host rowing events! Of all the people in a rower’s life, only fellow rowers can truly understand the sheer amount of dedication, hard work and tears that go into the sport. It builds a resilience like no other, and this helps you to bond with other club members.

Social activities are a great way to unwind and connect with your club friends on a different level. You can enjoy a beer or glass of wine while chatting about your week’s rowing achievements.

Or, members may find out that they have more than just rowing in common – strengthening the ties of their friendship.

Everyone may know how to handle an oar, but how will they fare with a different sort of wooden pole?

3) Encourage friendly competition

One of the best ways to achieve your goals is to push yourself to newer and newer limits each time. This can be done through competition.

Of course, in a rowing club, you’re all training hard. But that’s not to say that rowing club managers can’t encourage some friendly competition within their own rowing club.

Pair experienced rowers with junior ones in a fun two-on-two sculling race. You’ll see how hard the junior rowers will work to keep up, and how well the experienced rowers will coach them. This can foster great mentor-mentoree relationships, especially if you find there may be a larger age gap between experienced and inexperienced members.

There are many other ways to hold a fun competition. Perhaps plan a silly triathlon of sorts, where members engage in a rowing race, but also a potato sack sprint and an egg-and-spoon race? The options for fun are endless, and can bond members together to work harder as a team.

So, will you be adopting any of these ideas? What does your rowing club do to encourage a communal, welcoming environment?

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Dragon boating. There’s nothing quite like it. Once you see the vibrant reds, greens and golds on the water, complete with the rhythmic pounding of drums, you can’t deny the excitement of the activity that is dragon boating.

There’s a rich, cultural history behind dragon boat racing. It’s what makes this unique sport so special.

The mythology behind the dragon

Dragons hold a powerful symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. It’s the only mythical creature chosen to be one of the 12 in the Chinese Zodiac.

Rather than seen as a scary, frightening creature, rather, the Chinese see a dragon as a symbol of strength and power, especially with regards to water elements – rain, floods, storms and the like. So, a boat in the likeness of a dragon should surely be a sign of good luck to race in.

The cultural legends that led to dragon boating

First originating in southern China during the Warring States Period (402-221 BC), dragon boating started as a ritual to encourage the gods to bless their summer with rain, so crops could grow.

That’s one of the stories, at least! Another more popular legend says that dragon boat racing arose as a way to commemorate the famous poet, Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan was a head advisor in the state of Chu. He was a proudly patriotic man, and upon hearing of the conquering of Chu, he drowned himself in a river due to great despair. This happened on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, between May 25th to July 24th.

This was a man much loved by the locals, and when they all heard of his untimely death, they rushed out in their boats, racing against each other and time to find his body before it would be eaten by fish. They dropped lumps of rice to appease hungry fish, and to scare them away, they hit their paddles against the sides of their boats, creating a cacophony.

The dragon boats of today

Thus, the tradition was born.

Today, drummers commonly accompany the rowers, pounding a beat to keep the rhythm. The long boats are expansively decorated in all colours, each hoping to stand out beyond the rest.

Dragon boating is an international sport, reaching many corners of the world, and is commonly used to fundraise money for selfless causes.

In China, the practice of eating sticky rice dumplings bound in bamboo leaves (called Zongzi) is rampant during the fifth lunar month. The Dragon Boat Festival is an important national holiday, with over 2,000 years worth of tradition.

Would you like to start dragon boating?

It’s never too late to pick up dragon boat racing. First, you’ll have to seek out a local club that is currently taking on new members.

You’ll find people of all ages and experiences in a dragon boat team. It’s a great way to connect with your community, especially if preparing for an upcoming charity race.

A dragon boat club is the best way for you to pick up this sport at your own pace. For more information on dragon boating, or joining a boat club, the team here at SSRS will be able to help.

_Sources

_{https://theculturetrip.com/asia/hong-kong/articles/a-brief-history-of-dragon-boat-racing/}

_{http://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/dragon-boat-festival-history.htm}

_{http://www.racethedragon.com/dragon-boat-racing/history-of-dragon-boat-racing/}

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There’s always that one sport or talent that we wish we had stuck with. It probably began as something our parents encouraged us to start when we were young, but perhaps life or boredom just got in the way.

The good thing about hobbies and extracurricular activities is that you can always pick it back up. Sure, you may never be a world-class gymnast, but adults can still have fun on the tumbling mat.

That’s why we at SSRS believe that anyone can and should pick up dragon boating. It’s a sport that involves a long boat with a dragon head and tail, after all!

We found Paddlechica’s blog post, 4 Ingredients of a Persistent Dragon Boater, to be very honest and inspiring. It’s a brilliant read so definitely check it out.

In line with that, here are five reasons why you should take up dragon boating.

1. Anyone can do it
   

Although it’s never too late to learn new skills, there are some particular hobbies out there that require specific training to prevent injury.

When it comes to dragon boating, it’s the perfect entry-level water sport, leading to many others such as canoeing or rowing. All you need is knowledge of the basic paddling stroke, which you can learn easily within a few minutes.

Also, because you work in a team, the overall success of steering your boat isn’t up to you alone. You can literally learn on the ‘job’!

1. It’s a social sport
   

Since almost anyone can pick up dragon boating easily, it means you’ll encounter people from all different walks of life.

You’ll meet people that live in the local area, and can hear what everyone gets up to when they aren’t dragon boating. Make friends while working as a team to achieve a smooth movement across the water.

Dragon boating is also a great way to fundraise money for schools and worldly causes, such as a cure for breast cancer. Many survivors are avid fans of this sport!

1. It’s a non-impact, non-contact sport
   

Whether you’re 15 or 50, the idea of being tackled, bruised or even just pushed may not hold high appeal.

At the same time, you might not want to choose a sport that doesn’t push any limits. Luckily, dragon boating sits right in the middle.

Dragon boating is a non-contact sport. It means you don’t have direct contact with the boat (other than sitting in it), nor with other people. If boating correctly, you’re unlikely to have direct contact with any other team member or equipment.

At the same time, dragon boating is also non-impact, meaning there will be less pressure on any joints that bear weight – this can be because it is a sport that requires you to sit, with your upper body doing all the hard work.

For those recovering post-injury, dragon boating is the perfect sport to help you ease back into fitness.

1. It’s a whole-body workout
   

Although you’re seated, all the core muscles in your body will receive a mighty workout.

Posture is important to prevent excessive pressure on any one muscle area. Learning how to sit properly in a dragon boat ensures that every stroke is efficient and you’re not straining your lower back. This spreads the pressure to your legs, which keep you anchored in the boat.

As you’re holding your back upright (no slouching!), you’re toning your abs and core muscles.

And, of course, your arms and upper back are hard at work, pushing your boat forward through the water. This all trains your body in endurance, and, if you master the correct posture, you’ll find it useful for everyday mundane activities – climbing flights of stairs, sitting down for long periods, even doing the gardening!

1. Water sports soothes your brain
   

Aside from all the wonderful physical benefits (stronger muscles and healthier heart, to name a few), the pros of dragon boating will also pay dividends to your psychological state.

Working well as a team does great for self-confidence and morale. You are a cog in the machine of your team, contributing to a greater success. That, and the repetitive movements of strokes and the sounds of paddles dipping in and out of the water are sure to soothe and de-stress your brain before or after a long day – who wouldn’t want that? Often, there’s drumming involved too, creating a rhythmic beat to focus on.

So, as you can see, there are plenty more than just five reasons! There’s nothing to lose, really. And, if you find it’s not the sport for you, at least you can say you gave it a try! Will you be picking up the paddles anytime soon?

Sources

http://www.aucklanddragonboats.co.nz/

http://enventive.com.au/the-benefits-of-dragon-boating/

http://www.dragonhunters.org.au/Dragonboat-Benefits.htm

http://paddlechica.com/persistence/

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As with any sport or activity, rowing has its own set of hazards and dangers. For starters, rowing boats aren’t exactly the lightest of vessels, and being out on the water can still pose a risk for even the most experienced rower or swimmer.

Another hazard that comes with rowing is also towards your equipment. Unsafe or inexperienced handling can lead to damaged rowing equipment, as well as cause injury to ourselves or other team members. All of this can be costly to fix.

Whether you’ve been rowing for 30 plus years or have just started, it’s important to keep health and safety in mind at all times. Here’s a quick guide about equipment safety to refresh and inform you.

Handling your rowing equipment with care can prevent injury for both rower and boat!

The number one rowing equipment safety tip

When athletes are carrying boats – no talking.

Apart from the coxswain or the person who is giving the commands, talking can confuse and distract others around you, especially since the bigger boats require more people to help.

We have all seen riggers hit racks and knock the pitch on the oarlock out of alignment. We’ve seen scratches put onto hulls from gate top nuts, or dents in the honeycomb from a boat being dropped from above.

It’s not ideal so don’t talk unless absolutely necessary. No talking – make it a rule.

Safety first and equipment care will take care of itself.

Rowing equipment in and around your boathouse

Firstly, rowing clubs should ensure that all equipment is in good working order and regularly maintained. This not only makes rowing more efficient (who wants to row with a broken oar sleeve or button?) but can help to prevent injuries due to damaged equipment.

Of course, regular maintenance doesn’t just extend to the equipment alone. Storage racks, oar brackets and the boathouse itself should be up to suitable standards. Don’t invest in expensive boats only to store them in a sub-par boathouse that floods!

With any storage solution, your boathouse should have ample space to fit your equipment, preferably with a clear, orderly layout of where everything is stored. It’s not required, but a protocol for moving your boating equipment in and out of the boathouse will make it much quicker to get out onto the water for some rowing fun.

Since many enthusiastic rowers rise before the sun, make sure there’s also lighting installed so that rowers can see during the unloading and packing up process of boats.

If you row before the sun rises, make sure there are lights in and around your boathouse.

Travelling with boats

There may be some instances when you have to take your rowing team and boats out for a field trip. In this case, it’s even more important to look after your equipment as the chances of damage may be higher.

Always use a trailer, container or roof bracket that’s meant specifically for boats, as your transportation storage method should be able to handle the weight and bulk of the boat. Dragon boats may need even more consideration due to their size – remember, the head and tail should come off before travelling!

Secure the boat with fastenings both across and diagonally across the width – this prevents the boat from sliding forwards and backwards, especially whilst braking.

Place a fluoro flag or strip of fabric on any overhang of the boat. Check your local road rules to determine the regulations around driving with oversized items. There will be a limit on the distance of overhand that is deemed roadworthy. British Rowing have a great guide in this PDF on page 14.

Lastly, double-check that the boat has been appropriately tied down – after all, your boats are meant for the water and not for roads!

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Starting anything new can be daunting. When it comes to being the newest member of a rowing club, someone may feel a little out of place amongst all the weathered veterans.

However, the point of a rowing club is for many different people to get together in the spirit of this one mutual interest – rowing. It’s both a form of physical exercise and also a social hobby. You can improve your cardiovascular fitness, de-stress and hang out with others as passionate about rowing as you.

As a club, you’ll want to make sure every new member feels as included and welcome as possible to prevent them from jumping overboard!

How can you do that? We take a look at three key initiatives of clubs from around the world.

1. The buddy system

What’s better than meeting someone else who loves rowing as much as you? discovering that someone is also at the same experience level as you!

The Outboard Boating Club of Auckland (OBC) has a New Member Orientation Evening as the second step of the membership sign up process. What’s the first? Merely filling out a form!

This helps newbies to bond together in the face of club initiation. Members can meet like-minded people that are all in the same boat, so to speak. Holding such an evening also facilitates group conversations between both new and more experienced members.

2. Hold regular social events

Everyone has busy lives. The best way you can accommodate the various schedules of everyone is to hold regular events.

For example, OBC hold their orientation evening every second Tuesday of the month. This means, during any time of the year, a new member will be able to join and be accepted into the club smoothly.

It’s equally important for social events too, as this is a time to relax outside the confines of experience. The Mercantile Rowing Club in Melbourne offer some memberships that include access to their bar – open the first Thursday every month!

3. Keep them busy

There’s nothing more boring than small talk once all the polite introductory greetings have expired. One of the best way of bonding between team members is to embark on an activity together.

Does your club offer such tasks? Volunteering is a brilliant way to include different members in a fulfilling and rewarding social task. Having all contributed time and effort into a successful event, this can create a sense of achievement that strengthens the bond between members.

The British Rowing organisation explains that larger national events, especially, will be on the lookout for enthusiastic people to lend a helping hand.

Volunteering also provides great exposure on behalf of your club, both raising awareness and helping the community. Club fundraising is an excellent opportunity to integrate new members with the common goal of improving the club. There’s no limit to creativity – for example, Waikato Rowing Club raise cattle as a fundraising source!

We have plenty of ideas for club fundraising if you get stuck. Check out our rowing and dragon boat club fundraising advice here.

Do you do anything different to integrate new members at your club? We would love to know! Share your ideas/suggestions in the comments below.

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The Queensland Dragon Boat Club were the first rowing club to install a Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker into their new boathouse.

We recently got in touch with their secretary, Julie Elliot, to talk about dragon boating and how this new stacker has helped her club’s day-to-day running.

What got you into dragon boat racing?

“I have always loved water sports and love keeping fit. The first time I watched a dragon boat race I thought it looked like a lot of fun, but a challenge at the same time; Having 22 people in a boat is never easy to get everyone on the same page! So I gave it a go and here I am 8 years later and still loving it!”

What do you love about dragon boating?

“The camaraderie and of course when we race the thrill of 20 people all paddling in sync, not to mention the drummer and sweep willing us to win!”

As the secretary of a dragon boat club, what do you see as the benefit of offering dragon boats over (or along with) rowing and sculling?

“Of course there are a number of benefits. Dragon Boats just by its nature attracts large numbers, so immediately you feel part of a large family.”

Dragon boating is a great team sport due to the number of people required to power the vessel. Do you think this makes a difference in the club atmosphere?

“Absolutely it makes a difference to the club atmosphere. I guess with any large team sports the camaraderie would be high and it’s no different in dragon boats. Gold Coast Dragons is a small community and having the numbers means we are able to give back to our local community as well. Annually, we host events such as the Cancer Council Queensland Dragon Boat regatta, which usually raises around $10,000 for the charity and we host ‘come and try’ days for the Varsity Lakes Community to encourage people to embrace the sport and at the same time get fit.”

What have been the teams’ reactions to the new Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker from Space Saver Rowing Systems?

“Obviously, we are all excited. Previously, we had to store our boats on trailers or trolleys and this required at lot of space. Having the Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker now means we can store our boats safely and neatly without the added worry of our crew injuring themselves lifting the heavy boats.”

Why did you choose this design?

“We wanted a stacking system that could cater for heavy loads and eliminate the risk of back injury or dropping the boats! We looked at the rowers’ stacking system and wondered whether that design could be tailored to suit our needs. So we approached Douglas and he was able to come up with this design for us.”

Is it easy to use?

“It’s very easy to use. It now only takes a few people to load or unload the boats and once the boat is loaded onto the arm of the mechanical stacker, it is as simple as pressing the button to raise it to store the next one underneath.

What are some of the benefits you’ve noticed to having a mechanised stacker?

“As well as the obvious benefits, it now takes half the time to store our boats. Which gives more time to do what GCD do best and that’s paddle hard and play harder!”

Get in touch with our team

As you can see, the Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker is a great asset to the Queensland Dragon Boat Club. If you’d like to know more about boating storage solutions, fill out the form below.

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The post Q&A with the Secretary of the Queensland Dragon Boat Club, Julie Elliot appeared first on Space Saver Rowing Systems.

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This week we’re jumping back a few years and taking a look at the magnificent Kansas University Boathouse!<p>[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Credit: Treanor Architects

Completed in January of 2009, the Kansas Rowing Boathouse sits near the Kansas River in Lawrence’s Burcham Park. Nestled into a grove of cottonwood trees, the design maximizes river views and capitalizes on natural light to provide daylight in the team room throughout the day. The 14,000 square foot facility was dedicated on February 28, 2009.Built to withstand a flood event of eight feet, the boathouse can house 65 boats at a time in the lower level storage area. The boathouse features storage space for boat shells, oars and rigging equipment, and provides a team room, offices and locker rooms.<p>[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Credit: Treanor Architects

With a 90-locker team locker room and a 50-locker public locker room, the boathouse accommodates both the Kansas women’s rowing team and the Kansas Crew Club.

Also sporting a full kitchen and catering room, the boathouse provides a great place for rowers to congregate during the season and the 2,000 square foot multi-functional team room provides a place for the team to build camaraderie.

The boathouse also has a second level deck that allows rowers to spend time outside before practice.<p>[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Credit: First Construction LLC

Construction for the boathouse was funded in large part by a special student activities fee ratified by the University’s student body in 2006.

As far as dream boathouses go, we think this one is pretty spectacular!

How would you design your dream boathouse if you had the opportunity?

If you are in the process of developing a new boathouse, or simply upgrading your existing one, don’t forget to check out some of the great advice we have on our Boathouse Redevelopment page![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post Boathouse Spotlight: Kansas University Boathouse appeared first on Space Saver Rowing Systems.

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If you’re a boat club manager, you’re dealing with transporting rowing equipment all the time. Of course a trailer is the best way to get everything to your destination in once piece, but if you have to make do with rooftop transport, there’s a few things you need to consider before you set out on your journey.

We’ve republished some handy advice for transporting a rowing scull on roof racks, courtesy of Doug Rathburn. You can read the full article on his blog: “Suggestions for Car-Topping a Rowing Shell.”

All images used in this article belong to Doug Rathburn unless otherwise credited.

Let’s Start With Roof Bars

The first step is to use high quality roof racks. The best are Thule and Yakima. Typically, the roof bars provided by the manufacturer have too much bounce (too springy) in them and this has the potential to put a lot of strain on your shell. I’ve personally had luck with Yakima racks. They use a round bar versus the square bar used by Thule. The round bar is very stout and I’ve never seen it flex. At many regattas, I’ve seen Thule racks with a slight bow to them, which I presume occurs after years of use and heavy loads. My Yakima bars are from 1994 and still straight as an arrow.

The one potential downside of round roof bars is that u-clamps usually fit better with the bolt ends facing the shell. If possible you want to avoid this because the bolts can wear through your boat cover or into the gunwale of your boat. If you put the flat piece of the clamp on the round bar you risk bending your clamp. I trust my own attention to detail so I usually save the clamp and watch out for any rubbing.

Another tip I like to do is alternate the direction of the clamps on the rack. You can see in the left photo how the clamps face the opposite direction as they span the rack. In strong cross winds I’ve had the rack slide across the roof bars when the clamps are in the same direction.

Protecting Your Shell Rack

I see this all the time… Someone drops their boat off at the race course then heads to the hotel with their rack still on the roof. However, without a shell in the rack the nylon straps flutter at 70mph. Nylon doesn’t hold up well at that speed so I’d suggest simply winding some electrical tape or a bungee cord around the slings. As you can see I just used electrical tape and it stays there whether there’s a boat or not. I use electrical tape as opposed to other types because it doesn’t leave much glue residue, is flexible and is relatively UV stable.

Hudson racks come with a shoelace to prevent them from fluttering (right photo). The Burnham racks have a heavy nylon cover with padding with enough mass to protect from fluttering. Anyway, just do something to prevent the fabric from fluttering if you’re driving without a boat.

Attaching Oars to Roof Bars

When attaching oars to the roof bars I just use two good quality bungee cords. However, when transporting with oar bags, I usually like to secure the oar bag handles. Burnham includes some nice nylon handles that like to flutter wildly at 70mph. To counter the fluttering I simply run the bungee cords through each end of the handle as shown. Not perfect, but seems to work so far.

If you do not have oar bags, I usually place the sleeve on the front rack. The flat spots on the sleeve when held down with bungee cords help prevent the blades from twisting at highway speeds. Always place the spoons toward the rear of the car. If the blades face the front of the vehicle they will catch the wind and will mostly likely sway back and forth or just get pinched to something sideways.

I’ve had people write and say they don’t recommend nor prefer bungee cords for holding down oars. Yes, you have to be very careful and make sure the hooks on the bungees will not rotate and come off. Alternatively, you can use straps. I have also made a set of very short straps (about 2 feet) that I also sometimes use to secure my oars. You simply cut off an older, worn strap to the desired length. Then use a lighter to melt the end a bit so the loose strands don’t unravel. Below are a couple pictures of the oars being held down by straps instead of bungees. Even with straps I still secure the handles of the oar bags so they do not flap in the wind.

Carrying Doubles and Multiple Boats

I routinely transport two singles and a double on top of my car. You can see the setup above comfortably accommodates the three required racks with sufficient room for 3-4 sets of sculls between the racks. We have 58″ bars for the Yakima rack. The boats nest nicely with the double guts down and the singles lifted a bit by the racks. The extra gap is required for the oars.

I place the double in the middle since it’s the longest boat and helps with turning radius when driving. You can place the single racks just inside roof rack towers or just outside. I’ve done both, but with this particular vehicle it seems better to place the single racks just outside the towers. As I mentioned above, my preference is to place the flat bar of the U-clamp on the flat part of the rack and the round part on the round bar beneath. However, with our double there is interference with the gunwales so I must place them facing the car’s roof. This put small marks into the aluminum rack, but it doesn’t damage the integrity of the rack.

When loading the boats start with the center of the roof and work outwards. So in this case, it was Double, Oars, and then Singles. Many, many people have written me about guide ropes, and I’ve seen many people successfully transport single without them. In terms of doubles, please, please, use guide ropes. I have no idea how you’d transport such a long boat without stopping the forward and backward rocking.

Doubles are loaded guts down onto the rack as shown. You tie the boat down to the rack similarly as I outlined above for singles. One strap in the front and rear of the rack near the shell rack cross bar. If you’re leery of the setup you can add a strap or two around the hull and the Yakima/Thule roof bars. However, those added straps are not substitutes for the ones at the end of the rack.

This article was originally published by Doug on his blog: Suggestions for Car-Topping a Rowing Shell, published on Space Saver Rowing Systems June 2012 and updated on February 2017.

All photos credited to Doug Rathburn unless otherwise credited.

Oh and no, the image at the top is not real..

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Fundraising. One of the least exciting aspects of being on a dragon boat team, yet arguably one of the most important components of the club. Unless your team is sponsored by a large company or benefactor, you are constantly searching for ways to raise money in order to keep your boat afloat, so-to-speak.

Most clubs finance the majority of their organization with membership dues, but typically this does not fully cover the cost of all the team’s necessities such as boat maintenance or rental, dock rental, boat storage, insurance, race entry fees, travel, equipment, and many other items. It is a big challenge for teams to figure out how to raise enough money to keep the club running smoothly.

Dragon Boat coach and blogger, Paddlechica, kindly agreed to let us share her advice on club fundraising. Take a look below and give her page a follow if you find it helpful!

Before your team embarks on any fundraising projects, here are some essential questions:

What do you need fundraising money for?

Identify your specific need (boats, storage, a trailer, uniforms, entry fees, etc.) and prioritize them accordingly. If your boat is in a state of disrepair, it wouldn’t make sense to spend money on new race jerseys first.

How much money do you need to raise?

Once you have identified what you need the money for, do your research to determine the costs. This is not the time to be conservative. If a boat is going to cost you $9000, for example, don’t set that amount as your goal and neglect the other potential costs involved. Consider delivery, insurance, a trailer, and perhaps other items needed for the boat which might not be included such as a drum seat, drum, or steering oar.

How do you maximize the participation of your members in the fundraising?

Set your goals. Bring the challenge to your team and develop a plan to make it happen. These objectives often focus on the club’s participation at a specific race. For example, is your team hoping to go to an out-of-town race or even the Club Crew World Championships? The costs of travel and hotels add up quickly and teams frequently find themselves struggling to fill a boat when the fundraising does not sufficiently supplement the expenses. Be specific in what the team will be getting out of the fundraising. If enough money is raised, will the cost of the hotel be covered? Will the money be split evenly and everyone get reimbursed a set amount to spend as they choose? It often helps to have these types of incentives. Though careful bookkeeping is required, it can help motivate paddlers to meet the goals of the fundraising.

Photo Credit: Ed Nguyen Paddlechica

Fundraising Ideas:

Deciding what type of fundraiser your team will hold is often a difficult decision. Here are some suggestions to give you ideas for your own club. They are broken down into several main categories: events, products, corporate-related products and services, and BCS-specific fundraisers.

Events as Fundraisers:

Depending on the event your team decides to host, events can be time consuming in the months leading up to the big day. Yet they are typically quite profitable, which makes the effort worthwhile. Some of the fundraising events I have taken part in or have heard about from paddling friends are the following:

Save Our Sisters (SOS), a BCS team in Miami, Florida, hosts a wonderful night called “Pink Rocks” that involves a light dinner, drinks and dancing, plus a silent auction of items donated by local businesses. Funds are raised from the auction as well as the ticket sales.

The Collingwood Dragon Boat and Canoe Club in Collingwood, Ontario commissions local artists to paint paddles with free reign on the design, then auctions off the paddles in a silent auction.

Philadelphia Flying Phoenix hosts a Trick or Trivia night close to Halloween where guests wearing carefully planned costumes enjoy dinner, a cash bar, a silent auction and raffle. The final event of the night is the Trick or Trivia game where table groups form teams to compete in the ultimate trivia game. Items donated for the auction include such things as a paddle board and paddle, get away vacation packages, home repair vouchers, jewelry, landscaping consultation, Phillies’ and Eagles’ tickets, home-baked cakes, paddles, Garmin watches, an Apple watch, personal training vouchers, Starbucks gift cards, clothing, artwork, Fitbit, dry bags, paddling books and many more. Proceeds from the event pay for expenses not covered by dues and provide a cushion for unexpected expenditures. It’s always a well-attended event, with headcounts well over 200.

Products as Fundraisers:

The USA Senior A Women’s National Team sold jerseys and stickers.

Dragonheart Vermont sells and hats as well as coffee by the pound from a local grower.

Other products:

Custom dragon boat swag (shirts, hats, eyeglass straps, buffs, bags, jewelry, bumper stickers, tattoos, magnets, sport towels), team calendars, notecards, holiday-related items (wreaths, ornaments, flowers, baked goods), Yankee candles, gardener’s supplies (such as bulbs), windshield wiper tags, gift wrap. Selling things that are consumable is a good idea so that there is a repeated need for the item.

Best of luck with your club’s fundraising efforts. It is never easy, but when everyone helps out, the work can be quite rewarding to the team. And always remember to acknowledge the efforts of those teammates who work hard to make the fundraising a success.

What does your team do to raise money? Let us know in the comments!

A special thanks to Paddlechica for letting us share her content.

You can read the full article as well as more of her awesome work on her website.

Did you know: We manufacture Dragon Boat Mechanical Stackers for improved ease in the boathouse? Find out more here.

Space Saver Rowing Systems Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker

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Do you have big ambitions for your rowing club in 2017? The saying goes, ‘by failing to plan, you’re planning to fail’. If you want to reach your goals for the year, it is important to take the time to plan how you will achieve them.

And what better time to do that than the beginning of the year when everyone has returned refreshed and excited for the new season?

Here are some things for you to consider in your annual plan, that will help get you started:

Is Your Rowing Club Growing?

More members joining the club means more boats, oars and equipment needed to accommodate them all. Not to mention more the additional coaching staff required to train and supervise them.

Audit Your Boats/Equipment

What state are the boats in? Does anything need replacing? If you have damaged or worn equipment, it makes sense to use the quiet winter period to get repairs or replacements carried out.

Has the focus of your club shifted in the past 12 months? Perhaps there is a higher demand for 4x or your club is hugely successful in the pairs. Do you see a growing demand for single sculls in your club? Anticipating growth makes it easier to budget for new boats and how they will fit into the existing fleet in the long run.

Are You Storing Your Equipment Effectively?

If you want to protect your equipment as well as save time getting things in and out, a home-made rack probably isn’t going to cut it in a busy boathouse. Our Sliding Boat Racks and Oar Brackets are a great way to maximise limited spaces, protect your oars and boats from damage and allow for quick and easy access, in and out of the boathouse. You can view a full breakdown of our storage solutions here.

Is Your Boathouse Adequate For The Demands Of Your Club?

If you are thinking about building a new boathouse, you need to read our guide to boathouse redevelopment. It will save you time and money in the long run!

All of these things cost money however.

How Are You Going To Fund The Expansion?

Fundraising is a great way to build community within your club and your local area, not to mention works a treat for raising the profile of your club.

Space Saver has pulled together a handy resource for fundraising ideas, which you can download for free from our shop.

Or perhaps consider sponsorship from local businesses. It’s a great way to raise their profiles in the community!

Do you have questions or suggestions for planning and improving your boathouse? Maybe you have got a redevelopment already underway. We are always interested to see what clubs are doing.

Contact us to share your projects, thoughts, questions and comments. We would love to hear from you!

Photo Credit: Row 360

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Have you seen our new website yet?

We agreed a few months back that the previous look of the site was a bit bland and uninspiring, not to mention it was pretty clunky to use!

Out With The Old…

In order to make your browsing experience a little bit smoother, we have made a few changes.

Not only have we given it a more modern visual make-over, but we have redesigned the general layout, which we hope will improve its functionality and make it even easier for you to browse and purchase your storage products.

.. And In With The New!

We have also made changes to the shop interface, so no matter where you are in the World, ordering your storage equipment should be a breeze!

Have a look around and let us know what you think. We’re still putting the finishing touches on it, so if you have any comments, we would love to hear them.

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Taking proper care of your rowing electronics can add years to their usable life. Aside from storing them in our robust Rowing Electronics Storage and Security Box, we have pulled together some tips, which show you to care for them. So you can be sure they work as they should for years to come. Cleaning & Maintenance […]

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[Thanks to ReadyAllRow for sharing this article with us!] Walking the boat in and out of the house is something you’ll do every single day so it’s important that you understand the process, calls, and terminology that go along with it. Each team will have their own subtle variances but this should give you a […]

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[Thanks to ReadyAllRow for sharing this article with us!]

Walking the boat in and out of the house is something you’ll do every single day so it’s important that you understand the process, calls, and terminology that go along with it. Each team will have their own subtle variances but this should give you a general idea of what to say and do. If you’re a more experienced coxswain then how get your boat in and out will probably be a lot less regimented than what I’ve laid out below and that’s totally fine. This post is written with novice coxswains in mind though which is why the minutiae of the process is laid out a bit more systematically.

Remember that everything you say should be said assertively. You also need to speak loudly so that your crew can hear you – don’t assume that the echo or reverberation of your voice off the walls and boats will carry your voice. You can never be too loud, especially as a novice.

When giving instructions about where to go it’s important to know which way to tell the rowers to go too. “In the house” means to walk inside the boathouse/towards where the boats are stored and “out of the house” means to walk outside the boathouse/away from where the boats are stored. Vague directions such as “move that way” or “come towards me” aren’t helpful so avoid using ones like that and instead say things like “take two steps to your left” or “walk it towards bow”.

COXING THE BOAT OUT OF THE HOUSE

Before you begin, make sure there are four people on each end and each side of the boat. It is easiest to carry the boat if the rowers are bunched up at each end or spread out evenly throughout the length of the boat. Do not have the rowers all bunch up in the middle. This minimizes the support on the ends of the boat and makes it much heavier to carry.

http://ssrs.paulatkinson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coxingboat1.png

Another thing to be aware of when the rowers line up is their height. You don’t want to have a tall person be on the direct opposite side of a short person because then it forces all the weight onto their shoulder. If you have a range of heights going from stroke to bow, you can have the rowers switch where they stand when they’re carrying the boat down so that it’s comfortable for everyone. (This also eliminates a lot of bitching and “get it on shoulders” from the taller rowers.)

If you’re in a boat that is fairly new to the sport or has varying levels of upper body strength, your best bet is to have two tall people on either end, that way each end will be able to push the boat up and over heads. If all the stronger people are on one end and the weaker are on the other, that spells disaster in the making. Long story short, know the individual strength of your rowers.

To get the boat out of the house, the italicized words are the calls you’ll make to tell your crew what to do.

“ALL EIGHT, HANDS ON.”

This is the call that lets people know you’re ready to go. When you get hands on everyone should be quiet so they can hear what you’re saying and then do it without wasting time. If people are talking or not paying attention, that’s when boats get damaged.

“LIFT IT UP, SLIDE IT OUT.”

This is the command to get the boat off the racks. When you give the command to “lift it up”, make sure you’re watching the fin. Some people have very liberal ideas of what an inch is and will lift the boat too high, causing either the fin or the hull to hit the boat, riggers, or racks above them. This can do various sorts of damage to the boat (ranging from dents in the hull from the racks or riggers to knocking the fin loose) so make sure when you say an inch, your rowers know you only mean an inch.

http://ssrs.paulatkinson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coxingboat2.png

Sliding it out is the second part of this command. Once the boat is lifted off the racks this is when the rowers side step it to the middle of the bay. I like to say “slide it out” instead of “walk it out” because it’s (apparently…) easy to confuse “walk it out” with walk it out of the house instead of just walking it to the middle of the bay. Keeping the calls separate just avoids confusion, boat damage, and/or injury.

“SHOULDERS, READY, UP.” OR “SPLIT TO SHOULDERS, READY, SPLIT.”

This call is only necessary if you’re bringing the boat out of a rack that isn’t already at shoulder height. If  you’re bringing the boat up from rollers that are on the ground you’ll need to say “waists, ready, up” first before giving the command to go to shoulders. Don’t go from the boat being on the ground straight to shoulders. If you’re coming down to shoulders from over heads, you’ll want to give the call to “show sides”. This tells the rowers to indicate which side they’re splitting to by leaning their head in the direction they’re going to move. Ideally they should be splitting to the side opposite their rigger.

http://ssrs.paulatkinson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coxingboat3.png

“WATCH THE RIGGERS, WALK IT OUT.”

Once you’re at shoulders, tell the rowers to watch the rigger in front of them to make sure it’s not going to hit anything and then walk it out. When walking it out, you should always be standing at the BACK of the boat. You should be able to see the entire length of the boat in front of you, regardless of whether you’re standing at the stern or the bow. The “back” of the boat will be dependent on how you store it.

http://ssrs.paulatkinson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coxingboat4.png

The reason you should be at the back is so you can see if your boat is going to hit anything, which includes but isn’t limited to riggers on other boats, bay doors, random people standing around, etc. By following the boat you can pull it to the side if you need to in order to avoid clipping a rigger or something. Don’t count on your rowers to pay attention to whether or not the riggers are going to hit something (even though you’ve told them to “watch the riggers”) – you have to assume responsibility for your boat.

You also don’t want to stand beside the middle of the boat because if you have to make a turn coming out of the boathouse, you won’t be able to see what’s going on with the back end. If the crew swings too early, that end can hit the boats on the racks, a wall, etc. Additionally, your field of vision for what’s in front of you just decreased by about 50% because now you can’t see what obstructions might be in your way on the other side.

COXING THE BOAT IN THE HOUSE

For the most part, walking the boat in the house is the exact opposite of walking it out.

“WATCH THE RIGGERS, WALK IT IN.”

When the rowers are walking in, make sure they’re walking in in a straight line, not at an angle or anything. This is directed more towards crews who can’t walk directly into the boathouse from the dock. The back of the boat is going to follow the front, so if the front walks in at an angle the bow is going to follow, meaning that if/when the front swings around to straighten out, the bow of the boat won’t know what’s happening and will continue to try and walk forward. This typically results in the front of the boat getting pushed forward into another boat or into a wall. More experienced crews can get away with walking it in like that as long as they’re cautious but it’s not something novice or younger crews should do.

The easiest way to bring the boat in is to walk up parallel to the boathouse, weigh enough, and then side step the boat over so that it’s in a straight line in front of the bay. The key is to make sure everyone side steps it over together so the boat stays straight. Once you’re in front of where you want to be, you can walk it in.

http://ssrs.paulatkinson.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coxingboat5.png

“WEIGH ENOUGH.”

Once your boat is in front of the racks you can tell the crew to weigh enough. A good way to know when/where to weigh enough is to put tape on your boat to mark the spots where it sits on the rack, that way whenever you walk in the house you always know exactly where to tell them to weigh enough. If you go in the house too far or not far enough, see where the tape is in relation to the racks and say “walk it in one step” or “walk it out three steps”. Always give the rowers specific directions so there’s nothing left open for interpretation. Don’t ever say “walk this way” because … which way is “this way”?

“WAIST, READY, DOWN.” OR “UP AND OVER HEADS, READY, UP.”

Be mindful of your position in the bay so that when you go over heads you don’t knock the riggers on other boats on the racks or the fin on any small boats you might have hanging from the ceiling.

“SIDE STEP IT OVER, LIFT IT UP, AND SLIDE IT IN.”

Same as before, make sure when they lift the boat to get it on the racks, they’re not lifting it too high. Be aware of where the fin and hull are in relation to the boat above them. It’s important that everyone walks it over and puts the boat in together so that the rowers on one end aren’t already walking away from the boat while the other end is still trying to get it on the racks. Before you set it down double check that none of the riggers are sitting on the racks either because it can bend them or cause damage to the hull. If you’ve got tape on the hull to indicate where it should be on the racks, make sure it’s still lined up before everyone disperses.

The most important things to remember when bringing the boat in and out are:

Speak loudly, slowly, clearly, and concisely. Make sure your crew can hear you and clearly understand your instructions. They should never have to yell “what?!” or “we can’t hear you!”.

Pay attention to everything around you. Watch out for people standing in your path, boats that might be in slings in the boat bay, riggers on other boats, etc. It’s your responsibility to communicate to them that there’s a boat coming out/in and they’re in the way.

Don’t get frustrated. Coxing a boat on or off the racks can be nerve wracking, especially as a novice. Stay calm and be in control of the situation. Don’t let the rowers start telling other rowers what to do. Make sure everyone is quiet and listening to your instructions.

This whole process really is incredibly simple once you get the hang of it. Sometimes it requires being in a few different places at once but as you and your rowers become more experienced, both you and they will learn how to make it a smoother process and your instructions won’t need to be as nitpicky.

A special thanks once again to Kayleigh at ReadyAllRow for allowing us to share this fantastic guide & diagram illustrations with us!

You can read the original article and more of her awesome content at https://readyallrow.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @beantownkmd to keep in touch.

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You may have seen the following video circulating on social media lately: It highlights the massive difference weight distribution of trailers can have on stability, when the vehicle or trailer change direction suddenly. Weight loaded at the front of the trailer remains very stable while moving forward, while weight loaded at the rear of the […]

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(Photo credit: Oxford University) Rowing club management can be a lonely job, that’s why we’re here to support you.  Our blog is all about connecting you with rowing club management tools, tips and advice written by our own experts and gathered from around the internet.  We’re trying to bring the world of rowing closer together, […]

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Does your club get a heap of new member and learn to row joining enquiries after the Olympics?   It’s pretty normal. The key is to have a programme ready to welcome your members and an easy way to let people “Try Out” rowing for a small fee before deciding whether to join the club. […]

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It’s inevitable that over time, the needs of your boathouse are likely to change. With a bit of luck, new recruits flooding in mean you need double the space to store all your equipment, perhaps the club’s focus shifts from eights to quads or perhaps the number of single scullers boom. Whatever the reason, you […]

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With the Olympics kicking off this weekend, we thought it would be nice to take a look inside one of the facilities these world class athletes call home for their Olympic preparations. As you would imagine, it’s pretty out of this world… What: Devon Boathouse, Boathouse District, Oklahoma City Who: US Rowing One of the most impressive […]

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The life of a rowing shell is not always an easy one. With countless trips in and out of the boathouse, not to mention thousands of strokes up and down lakes and rivers, hours spent strapped to trailers under tension or even the odd knock out on or off the water, the natural environment of the […]

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