Glossary of Rowing Terms

(also see Boat Parts)

Bow: The forward part of a shell.
Bow Ball: A rubber ball used to protect the boat and anything the boat may hit.
Coxswain: Pronounced “Cox-sun”, also called the cox. A non-rowing member of the crew who either sits in the stern or lies in the bow of the boat. The coxswain commands the crew, steers the boat, and is responsible for the safety of the crew and the boat. While racing, the coxswain is responsible for the strategy of the crew.
Catch: The entry of the blade into the water.
Crab: To catch the leading edge of the blade in the water. This can cause a loss of control of the oar. In extreme cases, the rower may be thrown from the boat.
Deck: The covering over the bow and stern ends of the shell. The deck may be made of cloth, plastic or fiberglass.
Double: Racing shell with two sculler. Each sculler uses two oars. A double is steered and commanded by the person rowing in the bow seat.
Drive: Power portion of the stroke that begins when the blade engages the water and ends when it leaves it.
Eight: Racing shell with 8 rowers and a coxswain. An eight is a sweep boat, so each rower has one oar.
Feather: The blade is feathered on the recovery to minimize resistance to air and water.
Finish: End of the drive, during which the blade comes out of the water in preparation for the recovery.
Four: Racing shell with four rowers. A four is a sweep boat, so each rower has one oar. A four with (4+) has a coxswain. A Straight four (4-) does not have a coxswain. This boat is usually steered and commanded by the person rowing in the bow seat.
Gunwale: Pronounced “gunnel” (like “funnel”) The lip around the edge of the shell’s cockpit, where the rowers and coxswain sit. When rowers carry a shell to the dock, the gunwales rest on the shoulders of the rowers.
Oar / Sweep: Oar used in pairs, fours and eights. Each rower uses one oar. A sweep oar is just over 12 feet in length. Oars may be made of wood or carbon fiber.
Oarlock: Device that holds the oar and takes the pressure of the rowing stroke. The oarlock consists of the swivel and the gate. The gate is held closed by a fastener, (a threaded nut) that is loosened to allow the rower to open the gate and insert an oar in the oarlock. The gate is then closed, and the nut is hand tightened.
Pair: A racing shell with two rowers. A pair is a sweep boat, so each rower has one oar. A pair with (2+) has a coxswain and is rarely seen. A straight pair (2-) is usually steered and commanded by the person rowing in the bow seat.
Pitch: Angle, or slant of an oar or an oarlock. Pitch is used to ensure good bladework.
Port: The left side of the boat, when one is in the stern, facing the bow.
Quad: Racing shell with four scullers, each using two oars to propel the boat. A Coxed quad (4x+) has a coxswain. A straight quad (4x) does not, and is commanded and steered by the person rowing in the bow seat.
Recovery: During the recovery, the rower moves his or her body and seat into position to prepare for the next catch.
Rudder: On older boats, a flat piece of wood that is mounted on the stern of the boat. It swivels in order to steer the boat. On newer boats, the rudder is a small part of the rudder that swivels to steer the boat.
Scull: Oar used in singles, doubles and quads. Sculls are 9 ½ feet long and may be made of wood or carbon fiber. Sculls have a smaller handle than a sweep oar, but the parts are the same as a sweep oar.
Shell: Also called a Racing Shell: A thin-walled, long slender wooden or fiberglass boat propelled by 1, 2, 4 or 8 rowers using one or two oars each.
Single: Racing shell with one rower (a sculler) who uses 2 oars to propel the boat. A Wherry is a wider, more stable boat than a racing single.
Skeg: A fin, attached to the bottom of the boat, near the stern, that helps keep the boat on course and balanced.
Starboard: The right side of the boat when one is in the stern, facing the bow.
Stern: The rear part of a rowing shell. Rowers sit facing the stern.
Stretcher: A frame in the boat into which a rower ties his or her feet. The position of the foot stretcher is adjusted for each rower.
Stroke: 1) Rower in the sternmost seat who sets the pace for the rest of the crew to follow. 2) The cycle of the oar during rowing; one stroke consists of the catch, drive, finish and recovery (up to the next catch).
 

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