Handy Rowing Boat Accessories

The most handy rowing boat accessories are a rigger jigger, a bag of spares, and, if you own a boat, a cover and a pair of slings. Everything else depends on whether you share club boats or own one. Before you buy anything, ask whether it makes the boat safer, protects it or saves you time. If it does none of those, it can wait.

What to buy, by who you are

You are	Buy first	Can wait
Club rower	Rigger jigger, bottle, spare top	Rate meter, seat pad
Boat owner	Tool bag, spares, cover, slings	Personalised decals, roof bars until you need them
Cox	Buoyancy aid, whistle, waterproof layers	Your own cox box, if the club has one
Coach	First aid kit, stopwatch, megaphone or radio	Video kit

Tools and spares

A small bag saves more sessions than any gadget. Twickenham Rowing Club’s list of tools is a good starting point:

• Rigger jigger. A double-ended 10 mm and 13 mm spanner. Check your boat before you buy, because sizes vary by make.
• 6 mm and 8 mm hex keys. The usual sizes for rigger bolts.
• Pliers. For stubborn stretcher nuts.
• Trade tape and a marker pen. Use them to strap riggers and seats together for transport and to label which boat they belong to.

Then add spare nuts, washers, seat wheels and hull bungs in a zip bag so they don’t roll about. A spare bow ball belongs in the bag too. If one fails, replace it rather than repairing it. If you’re buying for someone else, our guide to what to give rowers as a gift has ideas at every budget.

Never use tape or cable ties on anything structural. They’re for temporary fixes ashore. British Rowing is clear that laces and cable ties aren’t appropriate for heel restraints. For a repair, its RowSafe note suggests marine cord of about 3 mm with a minimum breaking load of 400 kg, or the boat builder’s own parts.

Lubricant and cloths

Use what your club recommends rather than whatever’s in the garage. Concept2’s advice for oarlocks and sleeves is that lubricant is optional. If you do use it, choose a light silicone spray and wipe off the excess, because oil or grease traps grit and speeds up wear. Keep a clean cloth for slides, and wipe them before each outing.

Seats and comfort

A seat pad helps if the seat is hard or you’re building up time in the boat. Our guide to choosing a rowing seat cushion covers the options. Check with your club before fitting anything to a shared boat, because it changes your seat height and the boat’s set-up.

Cox and coaching kit

• Cox box and microphone. A cox box amplifies the cox’s voice and can show stroke rate and time. Compare battery life and waterproofing, since models differ.
• Stroke rate meter. Useful for tracking rate and distance in training. Some models add speed from GPS. Fit it where you can read it at the finish without moving your head.
• Stopwatch or watch. Enough for timing pieces.
• Heart rate monitor. Useful for steady sessions. Our page on heart rate monitors explains when one is worth having.

Protection, transport and storage

• Boat cover. Protects the hull from sun and dirt. Dry the boat first, or you’ll trap moisture.
• Slings. A pair of padded slings gives you somewhere to set a boat down for washing and rigging. Place them where the hull is strongest, close to the riggers, and never leave a boat resting on one point.
• Blade covers. Protect blades in transport and stop them scratching each other.
• Roof bars and boat carriers. Ask the builder what your boat needs, and pad every contact point.
• Trolley or trailer. Worth discussing with your club if you travel to races, since many share trailer space.

Our guide to the benefits of owning your own rowing shell covers the wider costs of ownership.

Safety

Safety kit comes before comfort kit. British Rowing’s pre-outing check gives you the list of what must work:

• Bow ball. In good condition and securely fixed, unless the boat’s bow doesn’t need one.
• Buoyancy. Hatches, seals and bungs watertight. Fit buoyancy bags if there are no under-seat compartments.
• Lights. If you row in low light, fit what your local rules require and test them before you launch.
• Buoyancy aid or life jacket. Many clubs require coxes to wear one, so check your rules.
• First aid kit and whistle. Worth having on any coaching launch.
• Phone in a waterproof pouch. Useful in an emergency, as long as it stays in the pouch while you row.

Personalising a boat

If you own a boat, you can add club colours, decals and a name. Do it for identification as much as looks, because a recognisable boat is easier to spot on a busy river. Check what your club or event rules allow, and use marine-grade materials.

For hand-held extras, our essential kit bag checklist picks up where the boat kit stops, and our guide to rowing glasses covers what to look for if you row in bright sun or low light.