YRC members.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?The # 8 Maas on wheels is in need of repair. There was a wide split in the bow, the stern was worn away, and the skeg was kinked. So it will be a while before the
number 8 is back.? When you take the other Club Maas out may I suggest you get a hand from someone, at least to the slings. They are bulky and wide to grab. It's easier once outside our tight boathouse. ( The upper Maas is the Club boat, the lower Maas is Private.)? So feel free ask for a hand to get it out; it's the easiest way to get any boat out of our tight boathouse, and everyone will help. There is no shame in taking a boat out with two people.? (At Craftsbury, you are not even allowed to carry their boats alone.)?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?I suggest it might be best to rethink our keeping #8 on wheels in the back. Especially with newbies, the boat gets rough use. If the bow is held too high the skeg and stern are scrapped. It gets dropped on the bow and cracked etc. When one learns to come into the dock, the bow gets hit. We've all probably banged a boat when starting to dock; it's a learned skill. Every year I repair or patch something on the #8.? Considering newbies are usually with someone ( or should be ) and it is rare for them to row where no one is around the boathouse, perhaps we should try it back on a rack as before, if even outside. It also cleans out that back oar area, and is easier to get out of the boathouse. Those on the left side oar racks can see ( even with the #8 off the wheels and just pushed to the side) how much more room you have.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Some new rowers have a tendency to think of rowing shells like those plastic extruded? kayaks or canoes which they are not. Kayaks and canoe can take a lot of abuse, shells are delicate. Members who own boats know this, so maybe just a gentle suggestion here and there about handling the boats and oars could help.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?As to oars: we will be rebuilding the major oar racks but for now the best system is to put them Face to Face, then offset the Collars and put them in the rack. If we all do this there will be no oars crashing down. The racks are too close together for todays oars.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?We will be rebuilding the front right rack also with the Mass on it. There will be six boats on slings which includes one boat on a dolly.
Thanks Everyone,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Craig
