It’s that time of year when the northern hemisphere starts winter training and the southern hemisphere schools begin their summer programme.

 We have pulled together a check list of things to do for a rowing club at the start of the season:

1. Sweep out the boathouse – yep, dusty and dirty it is and spick and span it will be
2. Put away those riggers lying on the floor between the boat racks.  Maybe get a hanging rack for wing riggers.
3. Service ergos – you can do it yourself instructions for C2 and for RP (page 12-13)
4. Service boats – make a list of minor repairs needed for each boat.  We used a check-list for every club boat.
5. Service cox boxes –
6. Check the rigging – span, pitch, heel restraints, oarlocks aren’t too worn, make sure slides won’t cut anybody if they have lost their rubber end stoppers.
7. Buy an indelible marker and re-label things – oar lengths (use white electrical tape around the shaft and write the length:inboard), seats (name of boat and seat number), label the racks so the correct boat goes on the correct rack
8. Coxing wires, coxless boat steering wires, steering shoes – check they all work and wires move freely- add WD 40 lubricant if needed.
9. Coaching boat motors – get it serviced, check the oil.

We used to have a barbeque afterwards as a bit of a social and to reward the hard work – the committee paid for the food and we brought our own drink.