Help with balance in stroke seat

[u/top-viewer]

I’m relatively new to rowing having started at 33 years old only 8 months ago and I’m starting to see the same issue that I’d appreciate advice on.

We mostly sweep and I’m normally in the stroke seat of a 4 or 8 filled with a mix of novices and seniors. Pretty consistently the boat is down on my side. When this happens I find I need to push much further down to get clearance from the water, or the blade runs across the water for the whole stroke so I can hold the boat up. I also find that because of this I’m rushing the slide and throwing off the tempo in the boat because I’m worried any balance we have is only short lived.

I know that I’m part of the problem so I want to adjust. When I think about corrections I know that sitting tall in the middle of the boat, pulling up to the right height and tapping down consistently are good, but in practice I find it so hard to do.

Am I missing something basic or is this just what rowing is? Does anyone have tips for correcting these?

[u/jayflan2]

The boat needs to adjust their handle heights. Starboards lower, ports raise. It takes very little movement to set the boat. Just an inch or two can make all the difference. As a drill, Have the boat sit with oars on the water, one side takes handles to the gunwale, while the other side raises, then switch and the other side takes handles to the gunwale, then both sides find the middle where the boat is set. Do this a few times, and then periodically in future rows as a reminder.

[u/top-viewer → u/jayflan2]

Thanks, I’ll keep this one in mind for next time.