Measuring The Stern Pitch Of A Rowing Shell’s Rigger (Basic Rigging Video)

For the next installment of our Basic Rigging Videos we present how to measure the stern pitch.

Stern pitch is basically the angle the oarlock pin has towards the stern of the boat. Since most oarlocks today come with pitch in them we measure the stern pitch with the oarlock on the oarlock pin. This is done, measured, with a pitch meter.

There are many pitch meters available, and I plan on a review of some of those in a later post, but for this video I use a meter made by Bill Leavitt. Bill has made some very handy rigging tools and is a wonderful coach (since retired). If you have a chance to try one of his pitch meters, I suggest you take advantage of it. They are simple, and work well.

There are a few steps you should take before measuring to help you get the best readings:

1. Put the boat in a safe spot, in good slings, so not to worry about it falling over
2. Make sure the oarlock is clean and not worn
3. Take the measurements in a place where you have enough light, and space, to read the meter and move at your own pace.

I’ve measured the pitch in a wide variety of places, and even with the boat upside down. You can do that (although you probably don’t want to make a habit of it) and get a good reading but it takes a steady hand and experience. If you are just starting out find a quiet place that is has good light, and take your time. Double check your work.

You do not need to worry about the boat being level from bow to stern, it can be at an angle. But for accurate readings the boat should be level from side to side.

The video explains the basics.

If you have questions, please leave a comment, or go to the Submit Question page.

Hope you find it helpful.

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Are You Thinking About What Tomorrow Will Bring For Your Rowing?

A Sunday special post

photo by luismi1985

Coming back from a race yesterday, I got worried—really worried.

It wasn’t about the team or the race results.

Instead it was about something haunting. The future. Specifically, money for the future.

During the regatta, as I watched one of our races go by I struck up a conversation with a parent of one of my rowers. The theme of the conversation was how bleak the economy looks right now, and how discretionary money in people’s budgets are drying up.

We both wondered what tomorrow would bring.

Why is no one talking about this at our level? Read more

Product Review: Flip Mino Camcorder

One of the tools that I’ve been using for the past year is a camcorder made by Pure Digital. The specific model is the Flip Mino Camcorder.

I really enjoy the camera and have recently bought two more to use with our coaching staff. The following 5 minute video will give an indepth review, along with actually footage taken with the camera.

Below are links to the camcorder, tripod, and the Pelican box I showed in the video. A disclaimer, these are affiliate links, and we receive a small amount for each purchase made through these links. If you are thinking of buying any of these items we would greatly appreciate you purchasing through these links—the funds help support us to continue providing quality information. Thank you.

1. Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
2. Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders
3. Pelican Micro Dry Case (1030) (Yellow)

Measuring The Spread In A Rowing Shell (Basic Rigging Video)

If I had to pick the one rigging number I feel is most important to a rower—in terms of the equipment—I would pick the spread.

To me the spread is the foundation that the house is built upon. If it is not correct then regardless of how well the house is built from that point up soon there will be problems, most likely major ones.

For you scullers out there who are getting ready to tune out this post I will say, “Read on!” Scullers need to know how to measure spread also. Although you use span (the distance from one pin to another) the only way to tell if the pins are equal distance from the centerline of the boat, and not skewed to one side or another, is to use spread.

The nice thing about spread is that it is also one of the easiest measurements to find. With a regular tape measure you can take your measurement in a matter of seconds, regardless of the position of the boat (guts-up or guts-down).

The following video will give you the lowdown, and here is a quick step-by-step procedure:

1. measure the width of the shell at the rigger position where you desire to measure the spread
2. divide that number by 2 (one reason the Metric systems rocks!)
3. take that number and place the tape on the gunwale at that mark on the tape
4. extend the tape out to the pin
5. find your spread mark where the pin intersects the tape

Give the short video a watch for some tips and to see it in action.

Questions? Leave a comment.

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Cheers!

Can You Help Make This Rowing Resource Better?

I usually get several questions about rowing terms, what means what, and the like. So I thought that I would put up a rowing terminology page. It has 87 terms so far.

I wanted to post it first to give anyone a chance to add words (especially non-US terms), change definitions, or suggest improvements. If you have any please leave a comment. I hope to have the page up in a week.

1. Adjustment: moving the dimensions on rowing equipment to best suit the needs of the rower(s)
2. Aft: towards the stern or the back of a boat
3. Back stop: small blocks on the fore part of the slide that prevent seat as-sembly from rolling off the slide
4. Beam: width at the widest part of a boat, usually measured from inside of gunwales Read more

Nine Different Steps For Improving An Erg Score

Rowing wise man Allen Rosenberg chimed in the other day when asked by someone how to improve an erg score. These steps were taken from that discussion. Although not length, their might be insight in here for you.

1)    Get into the mood: have no hesitancy or recriminations about working the erg. Shed the workaday stuff during the time well before the sitting down.

2)    Fuel up: don’t skip breakfast on the days you workout

3)    Fuel up again: snack 3-4 hours before work time with nuts, fruits whole grains and above all strong tea about 30 minutes before.

4)    Use high-test fuel: make sure your diet is rich in carbohydrates and proteins which, when combined, will release glucose and tyrosine for energy.

5)    Stress free: pay attention to being stress-free immediately before the work by checking  heart rate and staying close to normal resting.

6)    Control your surroundings: make your surrounding clean, pleasant smelling and not too cool or too warm, and make use of moving air using a fan for circulation, make use of pleasant sights and sounds with audio and/ or video tapes.

7)    Be special: treat yourself as someone special. Wear  fresh, clean workout gear.

8)    Get wet: hydrate all day well before the workout. Hydrate after the cool down.

9)    Plan: thoroughly plan workout well ahead so that you can (and  will subliminally think through the workout )

Allen Rosenberg is one of the best known rowing coaches in the world. I hope that he will continue to share his wisdom here. To read more about Allen click here.

Care to share your suggestions about improving an erg score . . . please use the comment box below.

7 Questions A Rowing Coach Should Ask Before Firing Up That Outboard Motor

Several years ago I wrote this article for row2k.com (one of my favorite rowing sites). It has become dated so I’ve added some text and links, since the time of season is right to think about this.

An email arrived from a reader who was all excited about rigging. (Yes, it does happen – some people do get excited about rigging.) He wanted to know what to bring in his launch in case he had to do some quick rigging on the water.

Unfortunately, I was in a hurry so I quickly responded, “Ask a few simple questions before you start your launch, then you’ll know what to bring.” I sent the message and went about my business.

Not satisfied, he wrote back, “Questions, what questions??”

Still in a hurry I shot back “Questions . . . ?” I told him, “You know . . . about stuff. Important stuff.” As soon as I hit the send button I knew that was a lame response.

He called me on it. Two minutes later he sent another request for details.

Trying to do three things at once – and realizing that I was doing none of them well – I took a break and gave the writer the time he deserved. “Okay, seven questions. You need to ask seven specific questions before you pull on the cord to start your motor. Without those questions no rigging is going to happen on the water, and you’re going to get into trouble somewhere along the line. And here are the questions:

• Question #1: Got gas?
• Question #2: Wearing your PFD?
• Question #3: Paddle handy?
• Question #4: What’s the weather?
• Question #5: Who knows where you are going and when you will be back?
• Question #6: Communication device (cell phone, radio) nearby?
• Question #7: Got spare parts?

Read more

7 Things Not To Do Before The Head Race Season Starts (update)

Several years ago I wrote this article for row2k.com (one of my favorite rowing sites). It has become dated so I’ve added some text and links, since the time of season is right to think about this.

I love playing the contrarian. You know, that guy who just has to look at things from an alternate view. Or the person who really needs to go against conventional wisdom.

For instance, everywhere I turn I see people/businesses/coaches promoting “To Do” lists. Those David Letterman-like lists that are supposed to grab your attention and help you do the right thing.

In my email in-box this week I’ve received the following:

• Save money at the gas pump, use this 10-point TO DO List.
• Before your kids start school here are 20 safety things TO DO.
• Hurricane season is coming, use our TO DO list to prepare for emergencies.

Enough! I love the advice, but enough with the “TO DOs.” They can drive a person crazy.

Instead, how about this. Let’s try something from a different angle (said the contrarian). It seems occasion for a “TO DON’T” list. Therefore, I’m presenting to you seven “TO DON’Ts.” Seven things I highly recommend that you DON’T do before the start of the Fall head race season (and resources to help you not do them).

Buckle your seat belt, they’re coming fast.

DON’T Use The Same Rigging Numbers Used In The Sprint Season

Why? As I written about before the leverage used in sprint races should be different (heavier) than that used in head races. Longer races at significantly lower rating and rowed at a time when many rowers are not in strong physical condition dictate that things need to be lighter for rowers.

DON’T Assume That Your Water-Way Has Not Changed

Why? Because somewhere out on your river/lake/creek someone has either

• placed a net across your race course that is sure to catch everything alive (including a Mercury outboard)
• sunk a 40 foot cabin cruiser that lurks just 4 inches below the water and is just looking for a few skegs to join it
• put up a swim platform two hundred meters from the finish line of your course that is so low in the water the chances of a coxswain seeing it are about zero

DON’T Do The Same Workouts Training For Head Races As You Used Training For Sprint Races

Why? Basic physiology and psychology dictate this. Along with the understanding that 2000 meter erg testing in the Fall is about as popular as Brussels sprout ice-cream. Different racing requires different training, especially with athletes who spent the summer (all summer) loving life to the fullest.

Friend Tom Bohrer has posted an article on suggested training for head races that I recommend.

DON’T Think For One Moment That All Of Your Safety Equipment Is Where You Left It And It Is In Good Order

Why? Well for one reason, there is nothing that makes a better “fun box” for a three year old than a first aid kit. For another, it is amazing what a great nest a raccoon can build out of a bag of life jackets. And yet another, launch paddles have a way of sprouting legs, never to be seen again. Unless you put it under lock and key at the end of the Spring season, chances are slim it is where you left it.

DON’T Believe That All Of Your Equipment Is In Good Working Order.

Why? Because:

• Because we are rowers.
• Because we pull hard.
• Because we break things-a lot of things (and have habits of not telling people that, “Opps, I broke that . . . .”).
• Because non-rowers find rowing stuff and like to use it for non-rowing things (“Hey, Butch, this long paddle-thingy will be just great for cleaning your gutters.”)

DON’T Use The Outboard Motor Without Testing It.

Why? For the simple reason that getting two-hundred-meters-downriver-when-the-engine-cuts-out-and-the-second-day-novice-are-rowing-by-a-five-into-a-restored-(and very expensive)-cabin-cruiser-owned-by-the father-in-law-of-your-school’s-president is much more of an Excedrin headache than you really need.

DON’T assume that your rowers remember more than a smidgen of all that great technique you taught them last Spring.

Why?

• Playstation, DDR, Wii,
• Work
• Life
• Batman
• Beer
• ESPN2
• School

and a horde of other brain-cell grabbers that happen in a typical summer.

And finally (an extra bonus TO DON’T)

DON’T eat that donut that you just found under your launch seat from last year’s final practice.

Why? Just trust me. Don’t. Regardless of how hungry you are. Don’t.

I base each of these Don’ts on personal experience. So, now go to the boathouse and don’t do these things. Let me know how they don’t go. And if you’ve got a favorite DON’T before the fall starts, let me know.

Rigger Top Stay Question

I received the following question from Jessica:

Mike,
I just finished Nuts and Bolts but couldn’t find an answer to a question that I’ve wondered about for a long time. What’s the right degree of tension to put into an adjustable backstay? It seems like every time I put one on, there is tons of room left to adjust it and get a “snug” fit.

Is there a rule of thumb to follow? Should there be some outward tension from the adjustable bolt to steady it against the hull?

Jessica—great question. Let’s see if this helps.

The top stay is an important piece of a rigger and has a main function of helping to secure the oarlock and pin in place. There are some very formidable forces placed on an oarlock pin during the drive, and the top stay helps the pin from deflecting towards the bow of the boat.

On some sculling boats you might notice that there is no top stay, and that basically is due to lesser forces on the pin in sculling than in sweep rowing.

I suggest that you do the following steps:

1. With the top stay off set the pin/oarlock with the pitch and height desired
2. Put the top stay on, securing it to the boat and to the correct place on the pin
3. Gently snug the top stay up against the pin
4. Tighten up all fasteners, and go row

With the top stay snug it will be able to do its job. One way you can tell if you have done this correctly, and also to tell if your pin may have slipped, is to take the top stay off after the boat is rowed. If it comes of easily with no force needed then you’ve done a good job. If it is difficult to get off, possibly due to the nut or bolt attaching it to the pin being hard to turn, you may have too much or too little tension in it. (Or as I noted the pin might have slipped.) In either case just do the above steps again.

I hope that helps. And readers chime in if you have any thoughts you care to add.

My Ten Favorite Rowing Tools For On The Water

Over the summer, I’ve been out of the coaching launch—watching the Olympics, conventions, and enjoying the slower life. Now it is time to get ready for the Fall season and that means getting my coaching gear ready.

As I begin that process the first things I go to grab are my favorite tools. Those items that make my life (and job) in the launch better—and more fun. I thought that it might be a good time to share some of those with you since I’ve been receiving a fair amount of tool-related questions lately.

Following are ten items I love to have in my launch. Before I get to them I wanted to let you know that this post contains a few affiliate links. (That means if you use the link to buy an item I earn a commission fee of a dollar or two from the sale.) Also, most of the items here you could take along with you in a shell if you are a sculler or coxswain, and aren’t in a coaching launch.

Favorite #1: I love my watch. A good watch can make all the difference in my practice. How, well . . .

• I can tell how long pieces are
• I measure rest time



• I know when to come in

I recently wrote a review about NK’s T1 Cadence. I love the watch. Sometimes I forget my strokewatch, but not my T1.

Favorite #2: The power of a megaphone. Way-back-when I used to coach with the old cheerleader type megaphone. It worked well, but as I aged and as the hearing ability of rowers decreased due to hours of iPod use, I fell in love with a powered megaphone.

My favorite is a POWER MEGAPHONE 25W with the detachable mic. There seems to be several versions, and I have had success with Radio Shack’s model, although I found the same make on Amazon for about $25 less. It is tough, doesn’t gobble batteries, works well in one hand, and doesn’t cost an arm/leg. In the past I’ve also bought an extended care plan because I’ve been know to break a few items in my time. If you buy online you might save a few dollars.

Favorite #3: Flip Video Mino camcorder. I’ve used video taping for years, but there have been two main drawbacks—I usually don’t have the camera really handy when I want/need it, and I’m afraid of getting the camera wet.

My solution, the Flip Video camera. It fits in my pocket—always handy. My version costs around $75.00—gets wet or falls in . . . oh well. I’ve been shooting all the videos for my blog with it. Love it. (Note a newer model has recently come out, with a 2x zoom, and the older model has been discontinued. I plan on doing a product review of the new model next month.)

Favorite #4: My favorite wrench. It is 7/16 x 1/2 inch box end wrench. It is offset (basically bent in the middle) which has saved me much knuckle skin. A good one doesn’t float (neither does a bad one) and is not cheap—around $9.00. But those drawbacks pale in comparison to how many times it really has come through for me. With that and my second favorite wrench most on-the-water-jobs can be handled with a smile.

Favorite #5: My second favorite wrench. My second favorite is an adjustable wrench. This wrench combined with the #1 favorite wrench helps me handle most on-the-water quick fixes. The trick to using an adjustable is to make sure that you have a good grip on the fastener to reduce slipping. Mine adjusts up to 3/4 inch which means it will fit almost all larger rigger fasteners.

Favorite #6: Duct Tape. What can I say, give me a big enough roll of duct tape and almost any problem can be solved. You can buy it anywhere, it loves abuse, and when you need it, roll it out.

Favorite #7: Hat. When I am outside I have to wear a hat. I love the soft-front baseball caps. I never go on the water without mine. It improves my vision, great in the rain, and helps me do a variety of coach cores such as:

• pick a name out of the hat
• swat horse flies
• cover my eyes when the races are too close to watch

Favorite #8: Sunglasses. I am positive that without my sunglasses I would have lost my eyesight by now. The reflection of the sun off the water can destroy eyes. Mine are polarized and made of shatterproof plastic. I also use a Croakie with them and that helps me keep the glasses around quite a while longer (my current pair is on three years and counting).

Favorite #9: Idea catcher. I write tons of stuff in my notebook. I love having it with me. I know that there are a wealth of discussion about which is the best. I like moleskine note book, but I’ve used almost every make and brand. I try to keep a pocket notebook and pen with me always—it is my idea catcher, but also helps me

• record practice data
• store rigging numbers
• sketch ideas

Favorite #10: My PFD. I don’t, repeat, don’t go on the water without one. I swim well, kayak,  have been a lifeguard, EMT, and a whitewater trip leader. None of those things make a bit of difference when you fall in—life quickly turns upside down. I always have my PFD on. It keeps me warm, improves how visible I am to others, and it floats me.

No lecture here—you do what you want, but me . . . always a PFD.

Bonus Favorite #11. Gum. A good piece of gum is worth its weight in gold. It keeps me busy, especially on race day. And I think my rowers enjoy it when I chew gum because they think I talk less. And there is something very personable about offering a friend, competitor, or even a stranger a piece of gum. Sugarless . . . of course. Eclipse rocks.

Those are my favorites. There are lots of others that I take on the water with me, which I will write about in this series.

How about you? Got a favorite you take? Let’ s us know about it.

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