1. Rowing Safety Presentation
A GDRA
Rowing Safety Presentation

2. Basics and Safety 1

3. Rules on the Water Always stay with your boat.
Rule One:
Always stay with your boat.
Rule Two:
Remember rule number one.
The boat is your flotation device.
Your oars are flotation devices.
You are allowed by law to row with out more flotation than this.
Remember the Rule of 4 Oars
No swimming off dock or jumping off any bridges. 2

4. Boat Basics Oarlock Rigger Deck Plug Seat Gunwhale Bow Stern Cockpit
Tracks
Foot Stretcher
Direction of boat
Oar 3

5. Boat Basics (Oars) Shaft Sleeve Collar or Button Handle Blade
Blade Down
Hands Up
Hands Down
Blade UP 4

6. Boat Basics (Oars)
Shaft
Handle
Blade
Blade Square
Blade Feathered 5

7. Boat Basics
Oars (Sculling)
Direction of boat 6

8. Movement Metaphor Pulling on handles moves boat forward
Oars anchored in water 7

9. Movement Metaphor Oars (Sculling) Direction of boat
Oars anchored in water 8

10. The Oarlock The gate is only open while inserting or removing the oar.
Pin and Head nut
Gate
Rigger
Closed
Open 9

11. Boat Basics Oars (Sweep) Foot Stretcher Seat and Track Riggers 4+
Direction of boat 4+ 10

12. Crew Seat Designations
Bow
Three
Coxswain
Two
Stroke
Direction of boat 4+ 11

13. Boat Basics
Direction of boat
Direction of view 12

14. The Rower in the Boat
Direction of boat
Seat
Track
Foot Stretcher 13

15. The Oarlock
Feather (recovery)
Square (stroke) 14

16. The oar in the oarlock Outboard side Inboard side Pin and head nut
Shaft
Collar flat against oar lock at all times
Sleeve
Rigger 15

17. The oar in the oarlock Collar not in contact with oarlock is unstable16

18. Oarlock Orientation
Your nose
Direction of boat
Your oarlock 17

19. Equipment Care Always check your equipment before you leave the boathouse.
All Boats:
Hull integrity
Riggers adjusted and bolts tight.
Seats in securely and roll smoothly
Plugs in and secure
Stretchers in and secure
Alden:
Oarmaster orientation correct
Seat orientation correct
Height of oar lock correct
Clips in to secure to hull
Track length set to your dimensions 18

20. Equipment Care All Boats: Step only in correct place
Protect fin from damage on dock.
Protect rigger from damage by entering or exiting with rigger over dock.
Oarlocks in correct orientation.
Step only in correct place
Oarlock gates must always be closed except while installing or removing the oar. 19

21. Rigger destruction 20

22. Rigger destruction The rigger can overlap the dock.
The rigger to boat joint is delicate to eliminate weight.
Holding the rigger rigid to the dock and stepping in the boat will break the joint. 21

23. Stepping through hull 22

24. Stepping through the hull.
The hull has one place to step and a stretcher to hold feet while rowing.
While transferring on the water a rower can step through the hull of a wooden shell.
The hole can be huge.
The hull will never be as fair again. 23

25. Equipment (returning)
All Boats:
Hull integrity
Oarlock gates closed
Seats in securely before lifting boat
Plugs out and secure
Stretchers in and secure
Return oars to rack
Wipe down boat to remove Miami River scum.
Aldens:
Never lift boat hull by grabbing the deck, riggers or oarmaster.
Lift by the rub rails onto the cart. 24

26. Bow and Stern Bashing 25

27. Door Head 26

28. Heads Down 27

29. Not lifting together 28

30. Hull scrapes 29

31. Sling Bruising 30

32. Dock side damage 31

33. Safety Discussion 32

34. Why be concerned about safety?
to reduce damage to yourself
to reduce damage to other people
to reduce damage to the equipment
to reduce chances of bad publicity
to reduce chances of legal action 33

35. Always stay with your boat.
Rules on the Water
Rule One:
Always stay with your boat.
Rule Two:
Remember rule number one. 34

36. In Boat Safety Always stay with your boat.
Never let go of your oar while you are in the boat.
Never step anywhere other than the spot provided. If you don’t know where that spot is ask.
Always stay with your boat. 35

37. Club Log Out Policy
Always log out when you take any boat on the river.
This allows the club to know:
who you are and when you left
where the boat is and when it left
alerts the club to any boat damage
if a boat has been damaged, it allows some understanding of how and helps to prevent the same occurrence in the future. 36

38. Club Log Out Policy Always log in when you return.
Always make a notation of any damage incurred.
If you notice that a boat has been out a long time:
Check to see if the boat is in the house, as the rower may have forgotten to sign in.
If you perceive a problem, call the person at home and if still concerned, notify the MetroPark Rangers and Dayton Police by dialing 911 37

39. Island MetroPark
The park is often desolate during the hours GDRA people row.
Be careful and mindful of the private nature of activities in many cars.
Be careful of the people wandering the docks.
Always lock the boat house when it is empty.
Always lock your car doors and then lock your car keys inside the key lock box inside the boathouse. 38

40. Island MetroPark
We share the dock with fishermen who have nearly invisible lines in the water.
Give them a generous space when you row by and be mindful of their lines.
We share the park with Island MetroPark visitors who are non-rowers.
Be courteous; they may want to join us. 39

41. Island MetroPark
We share the docks and river with Dayton Canoe Club and UD.
They both present a hazard to you and your boat.
Entering the river from the docks is hazardous.
Always watch for boat traffic coming through the Helena Street Bridge.
No power rowing between the Helena Street Bridge and the docks. 40

42. Rules of the road Always stay with your boat.
The traffic pattern in the river is counter clockwise. (looking down)
The traffic pattern for you in the river is right side going upstream, right side when going down stream.
The river is like a road -- drive on the right and almost NEVER in the middle!
Always stay with your boat. 41

43. River Hazards Power boats Visible Debris Submerged Debris Other rowers
The entire river is a “no wake zone.”
UD puts many power boats on the river. Be extra careful.
Visible Debris
Submerged Debris
Other rowers
Buoys
Bridges
The wind and chop.
Fishing lines
Under water posts and pilings 42

44. When not to row When there are white caps on the river. (high winds)
Remember sheltered wind conditions change in different parts of the river.
When you hear thunder or see lightning.
Extreme cold
When the dockside “Height Stick” is in the RED zone. 43

45. Where to row While you are learning, row in the dock area.
As you advance and are authorized to take a boat in the river stay between the Helena St. Bridge and the I-75 bridge.
Most of the space between the bridges and around the docks is a “no wake zone.”
Try to stay within visible range of your coach.
Remember the Rule of 4 Oars. 44

46. Where to row Later when you are proficient:
Rowing upriver toward I-75 bridge
Rowing downstream the river often has heavy boat traffic.
Beware of the low-head dam downriver from the docks and stay away! It is a “drowning machine.”
Always turn and look frequently for traffic and debris in an un-coxed boat. 45

47. Boat house safety. Never sit on or step over a boat.
Never run in the boathouse.
Never hit the boats with another boat or hard object.
Always leave oar locks closed.
Always leave the boathouse locked when no one is in the house. 46

48. Clothing Dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Carry a water bottle to avoid dehydration.
Shirts should fit tightly to avoid snagging your hands or in the tracks.
Shorts should fit tightly to avoid snagging in the tracks.
Running shoes may not fit the stretchers “clogs.” Wear deck shoes. 47

49. Darkness and Glare
Your boat is required to have a appropriate lighting in the dark.
Use a red bow light
Use a white stern light
Remember the glare may prevent another boater from seeing you. 48

50. Traveling Tips
We have learned several things while traveling about loading, unloading, waiting and reloading. 49

51. Loading Operate with a check list.
Have the whole crew know what to do.
Have the whole crew there.
Have the crews work as GDRA not their individual crews or boats. It’s our trailer. 50

52. Loading Eights hang over bed, go on top. Fours, go on bottom.
Oars in the racks
Riggers in the truck, taped together
Slings, seats, tools, tents, etc. in the truck bed, or other appropriate vehicle. 51

53. Loading
When truck turns, this much sticks out in opposite lane from direction of turn
When truck turns, this much pivots out into opposite lane from turn direction.
We may use a chase car to guard the overhanging lanes, but the truck driver must always be aware of the danger. The chase car must take an active role and not just follow. 52

54. Turning
Opposite Lane Traffic

55. Chase Vehicle behind Trailer
Vehicle passing on right

56. Chase Vehicle covers opposite lane as the trailer turns

57. Vulnerable areas due to the overhangs

58. Loading Always check trailer: Always check boats: Ball secure
Running lights
Safety chains
Overhang red flags
Hitch jack up and block in trailer
Spare inflated
Driver awake
Un-chock the wheels, re-chock before un-hitching.
Always check boats:
All boats strapped correctly and tight.
Strap ends will not blow under wheels
Oars strapped and tight
Cox box wires secured.
All seats strapped and secure or boxed
All deck plugs secure
All fins+impellers secure
Riggers correctly stored 53

59. Loading
Boats
Eights on top unless small load then lower to reduce overturn moment on trailer. They have to clear trailer cab.
Boats on top go on first when ever possible.
One person should cox boat; every one else should be quiet.
Boats on lower racks must be loaded carefully to avoid hitting hull and fins on trailer frame.
All seats should be bungeed or out of the boat prior to loading.
Strapping should be taught to everyone and should be checked by everyone who passes the trailer. Strapping should not be over tightened.
Strap ends must be secured! This is to avoid a long end blowing under a wheel and crushing the hull.
Out board hulls should be held inward to minimize the over hang. 54

60. Loading Rigger on boat Back stay Rigger off boat Riggers nested
and tied
Fore stay
Main stay
Release head nut to finger snug.
Remove riggers – NEVER STEP ON A RIGGER
Swing back stay over fore stay.
Nest port side riggers and tie as shown
Nest starboard side riggers and tie as shown.
When loading be sure back stays have nothing loaded on top of them.
Check headnuts to make sure they are snug enough to not rattle out. 55

61. Loading
Riggers
Inventory riggers to make sure they are matched with boats.
Make sure head nuts have been loosened before the back stay is folded over the fore stay.
Make sure head nuts are re-snugged for travel.
Make sure, nothing is on top of backstays in trailer. Impact loading, from trailer bounce, fatigues the thin tubing and causes breaks. 56

62. Loading
Oars:
Check inventory with coaches to make sure we have enough correct oars. Count them!
Use the wooden combs in the front and back of the trailer to secure all that will fit.
Oars blades are aligned aft in the combs.
Strap balance of oars along side and secure end of strap, to assure it does not blow under the wheels.
Be aware that the vertical pipes for the combs will cut the boats if in place when loading boats. 57

63. Unloading Boats: Remove lower boats first to access slings.
Remove riggers and stage in a safe, low traffic area.
Remove oars and stage in a safe, low traffic area.
Set up slings for boats, where coach says.
Coxswains have boats removed to slings.
Remove balance of stuff from trailer, if it must be removed. If it can stay, work out of trailer.
All slings, bungees, and rigger ties should be coiled neatly and stowed in a bucket. If it’s raining…... cover the bucket 58

64. Waiting
Crews should not wander off. Many races have been scratched because a crew member was not at the boat.
When GDRA has boats on the water they will return. They will need help with oars, shoes, slings, injuries and spirit. Be there.
If you see other crews in need of the same assistance, offer to help.
Horse play around our boats endangers the boat, for all who use them. If you see some one endangering the boats you row, stop them. We forget during long waiting periods. 59

65. Waiting
Crews should not wander off. Many races have been scratched because a crew member was not at the boat.
Check rigging:
All bolts are the correct tightness.
All oarlocks are free to rotate easily.
All tracks are clean
All head nuts are tight.
Spread, height, work through, pitch are set.
All stretcher nuts are in place.
All bungies are stored.
Deck plugs are available
Bow ball is on
Bow number bracket is on 60

66. Waiting
Crews should not wander off. Many races have been scratched because a crew member was not at the boat.
Rest appropriately
Hydrate appropriately
Eat appropriately
Warm up
Stretch after warm up
Be ready to row early 61

67. Reloading
Crew members should not leave. The GDRA crews who used the boats are responsible for their safe return to Dayton.
Everyone is tired, some are disappointed, the boats have to get home.
Reloading is like loading except everyone is tired.
Some times reloading is a rush operation due to site constraints. It can be done effectively and orderly in ten minutes. 62

68. Hazards on the River Great Miami River Rowing
Buoys, Debris, Bridge piers
Distances
Prevailing winds
Current
Thunder in your ears, lightning in your eyes….do not row…or head in to shore! 63

69. Chase car driving
The chase car driver is important to the transport of our boats.
The chase must attempt to stay close enough to prevent other drivers from getting between chase car and boats. The chase driver knows that there are several needle like hulls hanging four feet behind the trailer bar. Others will not.
The chase must anticipate the movement of the overhanging boats and stay between them and other vehicles passing on the the side opposite the turn.
The driver of the the trailer can use help changing lanes. The chase can provide that help by planning ahead and screening the trailer when pulling out. 64