Blade

The flattened, or spoon-shaped, part of an oar that touches the water during rowing.

Boot

A device that holds the bow of a boat before a race, then drops below the water on the starting signal.

Bow

The forward section of a boat.

Bowball

A rubber ball attached to the bow tip of a shell to protect against damage and injury in case of a collision.

Button

A collar around the shaft of the oar that keeps the oar from slipping through the oarlock and can be adjusted up and down the oar to increase or decrease leverage.

Cox box

An electronic device used by the coxswain to amplify his or her voice and broadcast it through speakers located throughout the shell.

Double

A sculling boat for two rowers.

Eight

A sweep-oar boat with eight rowers and a coxswain.

Fin

A small, flat piece of wood or plastic attached perpendicularly to the bottom of the shell to help the shell stay on a true course; also known as a "skeg".

Four

A sweep-oar boat for four rowers, with or without a coxswain.

Gate

A bar across the oarlock to prevent the oar from popping out.

Gunwale

A horizontal strip of wood running the length of a shell, to which the ribs and other parts traditionally are attached.

Handle

The part of an oar held by an oarsman.

Keel

The body of the shell that runs from box to stern.

Loom

The part of an oar between the blade and the handle.

Oar

A lever used to propel and steer a boat through water, consisting of a long shaft of wood with a blade at one end.

Oarlock

A U-shaped device on a boat's gunwale where the oar rests and swings; also called a "rowlock".

Outrigger

A framework attached to the shell and used to support the oarlock; also called a "rigger".

Pin

The metal rod upon which the oarlock is mounted.

Rib

A U-shaped piece of fabricated wood, aluminium or carbon fibre that supports the hull by fitting inside the shell between the keel and the gunwale.

Rigger

A framework attached to the shell and used to support the oarlock; also called an "outrigger".

Rowlock

A device on a boat's gunwale where the oar rests and swings; also called an "oarlock".

Rudder

A device under the shell of a boat used to steer it.

Scull

One of two short oars worked from side to side over the stern of a boat as a means of propulsion.

Shell

A rowing boat.

Skeg

A small, flat piece of wood or plastic attached perpendicularly to the bottom of the shell to help the shell stay on a true course; also known as a "fin".

Sleeve

The plastic jacket on the shaft of the oar upon which is mounted a button, used to secure the blade to the oarlock.

(BOCOG)