Pre-Race Rowing Boat Checklist: Cleaning and Inspecting

A pre-race rowing boat checklist starts with cleaning, because a clean hull shows damage, and then moves through inspecting the hull, riggers, seats, footplates and oars. Allow about 20 to 30 minutes the day before you race, then repeat a shorter check on race morning. Your regatta’s rules and your club’s safety policy always come first, so read both.

This checklist is written for racing shells rather than leisure boats, and rowing boat vs rowboat explains the difference.

Timing

When	Rough time	What to do
Day before	20 to 30 minutes	Full clean and inspection, fix faults, pack tools
Race morning	5 to 10 minutes	Nuts, gates, heel restraints, bow ball, cox kit
At the landing	2 minutes	Hatches and bungs shut, shoes and restraints, blades

The timings are rules of thumb. An eight takes longer than a single, so share the jobs out across the crew.

Clean first, then inspect

Cleaning is part of the inspection. A wet cloth along the hull and inside the boat shows scratches, cracks and loose fittings that dirt hides. Wash the hull with mild soap and water, rinse and dry, then look closely. A clean hull and clean tracks also run better, which matters over a 2,000-metre race. Our guide to boat maintenance covers the cleaning routine in detail.

Hull

• Look for cracks, dents and soft spots, particularly around the bow, stern and keel.
• Press gently on suspect areas. A soft or flexing patch can mean damage to the laminate.
• Check the bow ball is secure and intact. World Rowing requires a solid ball at least 4 cm in diameter, bright white and firmly fixed, and a loose one will not pass.
• Check hatches, bungs and seals so water cannot get in. British Rowing wants buoyancy bags fitted if there are no under-seat compartments.
• Check the fin and, where fitted, the rudder and steering lines.

Riggers and fittings

• Check every nut and bolt is tight and nothing is bent or corroded.
• Look for rust or corrosion on metal parts, particularly where different metals meet.
• Check gates close and lock, and pins are straight.
• Check rigging settings match what your crew agreed, with notes on spans and heights. Do not change settings on race day unless your coach agrees.
• Look for cracks around welds on the riggers.
• Check that fixing screws or bolts would not be a hazard in a collision.

Seats, slides and footplates

• Wheels should turn freely, and tracks should be clean and free of grit.
• Check each wheel for chips and flat spots, and check the wheel bolts.
• Check the seat is secure and doesn’t jump off its track. Fit the stops properly.
• Check laces, Velcro and footplate fixings. Replace frayed straps, cords and cables before the race, not after.

Heel restraints

Give these their own check, because they get your feet out in a capsize. British Rowing’s boat-check alert reported that many faults found by umpires were inadequate or badly adjusted restraints. That 2016 alert said each heel should be stopped from rising more than 7 cm from the footplate, measured at right angles. Its 2022 follow-up adds these points:

1. Each shoe needs its own restraint, so the foot comes free when the heel reaches horizontal.
2. Laces and cable ties are not appropriate.
3. Look for chafed, rotted or sun-damaged cord, slipping knots and cord that is too long.
4. Shoes should be firmly fixed to the stretcher, not too small and not fastened too tightly.

Check the current Rules of Racing for the exact limit at your event, and test your own quick-release, because you must be able to free your feet fast.

Oars and sculls

• Look for cracks, delamination and loose collars.
• Check handles are secure and grips in good shape.
• Check sleeves and buttons are in place and set.
• Check that sleeve and button settings are the same as in training, so the gearing feels familiar.

Race requirements

• Check your event’s rules on bow ball, boat labels, race numbers and safety kit.
• Check any cox equipment, including cox box, microphone and speaker, and that batteries are charged.
• Make sure lifejacket or weight-correction rules are met for your coxswain.
• Know where the weigh-in, marshalling and launch points are, and the order of races.
• If you are racing in low light, check your lights work.

Quick pre-race list

Item	Pass if
Hull	No cracks, soft spots or loose bow ball
Riggers	Nuts tight, nothing bent, gates lock
Seats	Run smooth, stops fitted, wheels sound
Footplates	Shoes secure, restraints sound, quick-release works
Oars	Collars firm, buttons set, no cracks
Cox kit	Charged and working
Tools	Spanner, spare nuts, tape in the bag

Before leaving the landing

Have spares and tools with you, and a plan for who fixes what. Report any damage to your coach or boatman. British Rowing says a boat that fails a check should be quarantined, with the damage marked, until it is repaired. A withdrawn crew is disappointing, but a failed boat on the course is worse.

Other pre-race preparation

The boat is only part of race preparation. Eat a familiar, balanced meal a few hours before you race and drink steadily through the day rather than gulping at the last minute. Wear fitted, breathable kit that cannot catch on the riggers or the stretchers. Warm up with a gentle jog or mobility work, then easy rowing with some short bursts.

If you are managing a sore joint, our guides to rowing with bad ankles and rowing with tennis elbow explain what to check first. Keep your pre-race routine the same each time, and see beating race nerves for the mental side. More is in the boats and kit hub.