A GDRA Rowing Safety Presentation

1. A GDRA Rowing Safety Presentation

2. Basics and Safety

3. Rules on the Water • 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.

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

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

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

7. Boat Basics Oars (Sculling) Direction of boat

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

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

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

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

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

13. Boat Basics Direction of boat Direction of view

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

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

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

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

18. Direction of boat Oarlock Orientation Your nose Your oarlock

19. 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 Equipment CareAlways check your equipment before you leave the boathouse.

20. All Boats: 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. Equipment Care

21. Rigger destruction

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.

23. Stepping through hull

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.

25. 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. Equipment (returning)

26. Bow and Stern Bashing

27. Door Head

28. Heads Down

29. Not lifting together

30. Hull scrapes

31. Sling Bruising

32. Dock side damage

33. Safety Discussion

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

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

36. In Boat Safety • 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

42. Rules of the road • 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.

43. Power boats 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 River Hazards

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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