Everyone,

Anyone who went to the boathouse today probably noticed that the front right rack (as you enter the main door) has been rebuilt.? Craig & I did this yesterday.? With one of the Maas Aeros away for repair, I believe Craig may have rearranged a boat or two so talk to him if any problem exists.? This is the fourth rack we have rebuilt over the last few years - each rack involves an entire day's work as none of these fittings are available as off-the-shelf items.? The rebuilt racks offer increased shell protection and support and better ingress/egress because of the strap saddles (where appropriate)?and increased?vertical?distance between each shell.

However, I write this email because, once?again, from moving all these boats out of the boathouse and then back in and onto the new rack, it becomes glaringly apparent how much protection is offered by using something soft to cover both of your oarlocks.? Simple, thick, winter socks do just fine.? I use an old pair of pogies at Yankee and thick socks at other?locations - but anything that covers the oarlocks helps.? Our boathouse was never designed to be a boathouse.? To fit as many shells as possible, racks were erected very close to one another and there is very little room between shells.? When taking your shell off the rack it is all too easy for the inside oarlock to drag across the shell below and it's just as easy for the outside oarlock to hit a shell on the adjacent rack.? Without protection this causes chips and scratches?on your neighbors shell.? All of this is alleviated with a simple thick sock or something similar.? So I encourage their?use.? If the BOD is listening, this should be a requirement for all club boats imho.

OK.? Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, so it's all downhill from here.

Eric