Racing Shell - The Boat
Although spectators will see hundreds of different races at a rowing event, there are only six basic boat configurations. Scullers row in singles (1x), doubles (2x) and quads (4x). Sweep rowers come in pairs (2s), fours (4s) and eights (8s). Sweep rowers may or may not carry a coxswain (cox-n), the person who steers the boat and serves as the on-the-water coach. All eights have coxswains, but pairs and fours may or may not. In all sculling boats and sweep boats without coxswains, a rower steers the boat by using a rudder moved with the foot.
- Shell - The racing boat. Shells come in configurations and sizes for single rowers, pairs, fours, and eights. They’re made of lightweight carbon fiber. The smallest boat on the water is the single scull, which is only 27-30 feet long, a foot wide and approximately 30 pounds. Eights are the largest boats at 60 feet and a little over 200 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 it self or the act of rowing a sculling shell. - Single: A scull for one rower. - Double: A scull for 2 rowers. - Quad: A scull for 4 rowers.
- Sweep - A shell configured so that each rower has one oar. Oars on a sweep shell are normally alternated from side to side. - Pair: A sweep for two rowers. - Four: A sweep for 4 rowers. - Eight: A sweep for 8 rowers.
- Bow - Front of the boat.
- Stern - Back of the boat.
- Port - Left side of the boat when facing bow.
- Starboard - Right side of the boat when facing bow.
- Gunwale (pronounced "gunnel") - Side of the boat. Top section on the sides of a shell that runs along the sides of the crew section where the rowers are located. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.
- Keel - The center line of the shell. The term refers to the extent to which the boat is balanced form 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 while rowing. All racing shells have a skeg. The skeg should not be confused with the rudder.
- Slide (or track) - Two tracks on which the seat moves. The seat moves forward and backwards on the slide, enabling to rower to "gather up" 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 slide.
- Foot Stretcher - An adjustable bracket in a shell to which the rower's feet are secured in attached sneakers or similar footwear.
- State room - One rower's space in the boat
- Rigger - The device that connects the oarlock to the shell and is bolted to the body of the shell.
- 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.
- Rigging - The adjustment and alteration of accessories (riggers, foot-stretchers, oar, 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 (or collar) on the oar and the pitch of the blade of the oar.
- Cox Box - A small electronic device that amplifies the coxswain's voice and gives a readout of important information such as stroke count.