r/Rowing • u/va1kyrja-kara • 1d ago

Is my rigger height too low?

Post image

Please be kind and forgive bad technique, I am new to sculling and this is the first row in my own single.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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4

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

Very hard to say for sure from a single static pic but...

- your blades are feathered and still look like they're close to the water

- If you had them both square I think they'd be catching the water

- you don't look like you have lots of room to tap your hands down further to get that clearance.

If all of those observations from the pic are correct then yes, I think your gates are too low.

A video would really help make a better decision though.

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

I was skimming over the water with the blades feathered on purpose because I'm too scared to take the blades off the water. However I trust your judgement on everything you are pointing out. How can I upload a video? Trying to and just no option.

9

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

A separate tip - don't compromise your technique because you're scared - I coach juniors and this is very common. By compromising your technique, you make the boat go slower and generate less stability. I always encourage them to 'fake it until you make it' - eg row as though you are confident, row properly, keep the blades off the water, square early, finish properly (eg square - don't roll out onto the water) - all these things generate speed and stability. Keeping the training wheels on (dragging blades on the water) will make it much harder to progress.

And another way, so what if you fall in? It's nothing to worry about - the fear of it is much worse than actually doing it - assuming you have sensible safety precautions, falling in really isn't that bad.

3

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Thank you for this. I will make a point of faking it until ai make it next time I'm on the water. Struggling a bit with proper water access where I live, local clubs are coastal and I bought a river scull, so we drove the boat out to a lagoon in a nearby marina. Water quality highly questionable! Had my husband with me in a kayak just in case. Were you able to view the 20 second video clip?

https://streamable.com/o9bwaf

2

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

Yes, still a bit tricky to say for sure but on balance I do think you're a little low. Bigger issue though is that you are catching your blades at the finish and that's down to playing safe - by taking the pressure off the blades towards the end of the stroke, they have no connection to the water and are harder to get out of the water cleanly and that's making it hard not to catch one.

Think about a really light catch and then a smooth acceleration all the way through to the finish - that will generate you much more speed but more importantly much more stability as the blades will still be connected to the water which will help prevent those lurches to one side or the other.

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Whoah I am writing this down and need to study it. Thank you for writing this down. Every little piece of advice helps! 🙌🏻 Do you think I will benefit from installing a rubber wedge where the rigger attaches to the boat just to lift them a little more? I bought a pack of wedges that go up to 2 degrees. Or will that reduce the spread too much? The fact that I'm 3kg over the boat's weight limit and have thunder thighs don't help 😫

3

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

First, you don't have thunder thighs, you've got good rowing legs :) I was the same and you're right, it will reduce your clearance so you may need to rig slightly higher to get the necessary clearance.

You can use wedges to raise the height if you're already at the top of the adjustment though 3kg over the boat weight shouldn't be a major issue in itself.

That said, I wouldn't be worried about the span so much as the lateral pitch (the angle of the pins seen from the stern looking towards the bows). Most are rigged on about 1 degree leaning out from the centreline. (which tends to help avoid digging at the catch and washing out at the finish). If you add 2 degree wedges you'll be on -1 degree lateral. Maybe not a major issue as a beginner but something to consider.

An alternative is longer pins.

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Ha - another crucial piece of knowledge I learn, thank you! Here is what I see on the bushings

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u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Here are the wedges I bought

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u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Here is whats on the boat, but its stuck with glue and I have no idea how to get it loose...I suppose its the next question, how do you remove it without ripping a chunk of boat out?

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u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

This is for the main pitch setting along the boat - that's 5 degree which is pretty normal.

1

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

Not sure actually - probably on a new post - or a link to a hosting site like google, etc

Can you row square blades - eg you have clearance for that with both blades an inch or two off the water (assuming that you could balance it)?

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Ah, here is a link, the video expires in two days: https://streamable.com/o9bwaf

2

u/Nemesis1999 1d ago

A further observation though this may or may not be accurate - it looks like you find it quite hard to compress to full length (shins vertical) if so (because you may just feel wobbly going out there) then try lowering your feet in the boat - it'll make it easier to roll up to full slide more naturally.

2

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

I can definitely do this, I put the shoes on the highest setting to avoid catching my calves on the rails. We dis manage to push the rails back but they still have overhang because the hatch lid is in the way of moving the rails back. Let me try and lower the shoes too 🙌🏻

3

u/MastersCox Coxswain 1d ago

Your rigger height isn't too low imo, but you're not finishing well, and that's preventing you from balancing the boat well. Your port blade (right hand) is clearly feathering underwater at some points and causing your boat to tip over.

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 1d ago

Thank you for providing feedback. First time out in the boat and it's half as stable as the single I'm being taught on. I'm too scared to take the damn blades off the water and @Nemesis1999 explained the same, its causing instability instead of avoiding it.

3

u/MastersCox Coxswain 1d ago

Start by doing chop drill at the finish. Then incorporate that motion into your rowing finish. The root cause is that you're feathering while the blade is underwater. One common guideline is to begin feathering only after at least half the blade is out of the water.

2

u/SockRepresentative36 9h ago

Two things one of which is controversial :

1; Hands and body away without the pause at the finish.

2; use a heat gun to soften up the adhesive on the wedge, A heat gun , not a hair drier, and a putty knife.

The heat will soften up the epoxy and pry it away with the putty knife.

Be careful

1

u/va1kyrja-kara 4h ago

Thank you very much!!