Boat Speed and Boat Balance

Rowing shells are designed for speed and will move well when they are perfectly centered in the water. This is often called ‘on keel.’ Weight imbalances and movements on one side of center will tip the boat slightly to one side and send it ‘off keel’. A critical skill set for a coxswain is knowing when the boat is off balance, determining the causes, and helping rowers to fix the issues. Sometimes a specific issue is hard to see but the coxswain may address several common issues to improve balance.  A boat that has poor balance will be slow boat because:

  • it is difficult for each rower to row properly and apply power effectively;
  • the boat is not in the best position to ‘run’ down the pond; and or
  • the boat will slow down a little each time it rocks to one side and rolls back.

Testing Boat Balance

The following exercise can be done before every start to check for boat set and balance and to help rowers gain awareness of handle heights, body position, and posture.

Step one: ensure rowers are sitting properly in the boat.

  1. Stop the boat with all rowers sitting up tall and relaxed in the neutral position with their blades flat on the water. The coxswain should be sitting as well.
  2. Check that the boat is level on the water and that all oar handles are at the same level.
  3. If there is unevenness, the rowers should check their body position and posture and make necessary adjustments.

Step two: check handle heights with the blade in and out of the water

  1. With rowers in the catch position, drop the blades in the water and hold them loosely to allow them to float, fully buried. The boat should be balanced.
  2. Rowers should tap down to release the blade from the water. Keep the squared blades just above the water – blade height off the water and handle heights should be identical for all rowers when the boat is balanced.

Rowers are now ready to row.

Body Movements and Timing

It is difficult to keep the boat from leaning to one side or rocking and rolling from side to side. Sometimes the boat feels completely off balance during the entire spin! If rowers’ movements are different from each other or they are not moving together during the recovery, catch, drive, and finish, the boat will rock to one side and roll back making it difficult to run smoothly and making it difficult to maintain good rowing technique.

NOTE
Rhythm and ratio of the rowing stroke and rower concentration and focus are major contributing factors to boat balance and speed.

Common Faults

The following errors related to movement and timing will affect boat balance:

  • Rowers movements are different from each other. E.g., one or more rowers lunges forward just before the catch.
  • Rowers are not moving as one unit; timing of movements during the recovery and or the drive is off. E.g., one or more rowers start to slide before the others; one or more rowers uses their hip swing too early in the drive.
  • Rowers have unnecessary movements such moving their heads in the boat or leaning to one side of the boat.
  • Rowers have excessive movements such as excessive layback, rushing up the slide, or slamming the blade at the catch.

Blade Control

Controlling the blade on the drive, finish/release, and the recovery is critical for boat balance. Key points:

  1. A rower will send the boat down on the other side if their blade goes deep during the drive (i.e. their hands are too high during the drive)
  2. The boat will dip to one side if the blade is released to early.
  3. The boat will turn and dip if the blade gets stuck in the water at the finish.
  4. A rower will send the boat down on their own side if they ‘sky’ the blade by dipping their shoulders and or hands at the catch (i.e. their hands are too low)

Rowers should try to keep their hands level at all times. On the recovery, the oar handle and shaft should be balanced in the oarlock and straight out across the boat and water. If the boat feels off balance, hand levels may be different among one or more rowers. Stroke side rowers may have to lower their hands slightly while bow side rowers raise theirs slightly and vice versa.

Diagnosing the Problem

Why is the boat off balance? Why does it rock from side to side? Why is it always down on one side? Rowers may ask a coxswain these questions during or after a practice but it is often difficult to pinpoint the cause(s). Here are a few ways that coxswains can help to diagnose the problem.

  1. Stop the boat and test the boat balance. Check check sitting positions, relaxation and posture, handle heights (see above), and subtle body movements.
  2. Use pairs rowing to focus on a specific pair, paying attention to handle heights, rowing deep and the finish/release.
  3. Use drills to work on technique and timing. Drills can also highlight problems and help the cox and rowers to determine cause.

Rowers should continue to develop individual and team technique and timing so that the boat feels stable and stays ‘on keel.’