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Requirements June 1972 until August 1982

1. Before doing other requirements, swim 100 yards as follows: 75 yards with any strokes. Then 25 yards on your back using an easy resting stroke. Then rest by floating as still as you can for 1 minute.

2. Do the following correctly:

(a) Launch and land a rowboat from and to shore.

(b) Bring a rowboat alongside a dock. Help a passenger into it. Row 50 feet, stop, pivot, and come back to the dock. Help the passenger from the boat.

(c) Tie a rowboat to a dock using: (1) A clove hitch. (2) Round turn and two half hitches. (3) A bowline. (4) A hitching tie or mooring hitch.

3. Do the following with another person in the stern:

(a) Row in a straight line for a quarter mile. Stop, make a pivot turn, and return to the starting point. If a quarter-mile straight course is not available, shorter courses may be used. Row back and forth in a straight line until a quarter mile has been covered.

(b) Backwater in a straight line 200 yards. Make a turn under way still backing water. Return to the starting point.

(c) Change places with your passenger. Show sculling in good form for 25 yards. Turn under way, and return to starting point.

4. Alone, or with one other person who is a swimmer, tip over a rowboat. Turn it right side up, get in, and paddle 10 yards with your hands or an oar. Tell why you should stay with a swamped boat.

5. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 25 yards to a swimmer. Turn the boat so that the swimmer may hold onto the stern. Tow him to shore.

6. Show and explain the proper use of anchors for rowboats.

7. Describe the following:

(a) Dory, dory skiff, dinghy, punt, pram.

(b) Four common boatbuilding materials. Give some good and bad points of each.

(c) Two of the following rowlocks: Tholepin, box rowlock, ring rowlock, open top rowlock. Tell why pin-type rowlocks are not recommended.

8. Explain the advantages of feathering oars while rowing.

Answer the following questions:

(a) How would you handle a rowboat if caught in a storm?

(b) How would you figure the number of pounds that might be carried under normal conditions in any given boat under oars?

(c) How would you properly fit out a rowboat, maintain and care for it during the boating season? How would you prepare and store it for winter season?

Requirements August 1982 until September 1985

1. Before doing other requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side stroke, breast stroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible.

2. Do the following correctly:

(a) Launch and land a rowboat from and to shore.
(b) Bring a rowboat alongside a dock. Help a passenger into it. Row 50 feet, stop, pivot, and come back to the dock. Help the passenger from the boat.
(c) Tie a rowboat to a dock using: (1) A clove hitch. (2) Round turn and two half hitches. (3) A bowline. (4) A hitching tie or mooring hitch.

3. Do the following with another person in the stern:

(a) Row in a straight line for a quarter mile. Stop, make a pivot turn, and return to the starting point. If a quarter-mile straight course is not available, shorter courses may be used. Row back and forth in a straight line until a quarter mile has been covered.
(b) Backwater in a straight line 200 yards. Make a turn under way still backing water. Return to the starting point.
(c) Change places with your passenger. Show sculling in good form for 25 yards. Turn under way, and return to starting point.

4. *Alone, or with one other person who is a swimmer, tip over a rowboat. Turn it right side up, get in, and paddle 10 yards with your hands or an oar. Tell why you should stay with a swamped boat.

5. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 25 yards to a swimmer. Turn the boat so that the swimmer may hold onto the stern. Tow him to shore.

6. Show and explain the proper use of anchors for rowboats.

7. Describe the following:

(a) Dory, dory skiff, dinghy, punt, pram.
(b) Four common boatbuilding materials. Give some good and bad points of each.
(c) Two of the following rowlocks: Tholepin, box rowlock, ring rowlock, open top rowlock. Tell why pin-type rowlocks are not recommended.

8. Explain the advantages of feathering oars while rowing.

Answer the following questions:

(a) How would you handle a rowboat if caught in a storm?
(b) How would you figure the number of pounds that might be carried under normal conditions in any given boat under oars?
(c) How would you properly fit out a rowboat, maintain and care for it during the boating season? How would you prepare and store it for the winter season?

* This requirement can be met in shallow water.

Requirements September 1985 until September 1995               .

1. Before doing other requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side stroke, breast stroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible.

2. Review and discuss Safety Afloat and demonstrate the proper fit and use of personal flotation devices (PFDs).

3. Do the following correctly in either a fixed seat or sliding seat rowboat:

(a) Launch and land from and to shore.
(b) Row in a straight line for a quarter mile. Stop, make a pivot turn, and return to the starting point.
(c) Backwater in a straight line for 50 yards. Make a turn underway still backing water. Return to the starting point.
(d) Properly moor or rack your craft. Demonstrate your ability to tie the following mooring knots: clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, bowline, and hitching tie or mooring hitch.

4. In a fixed seat rowboat, do the following:

(a) Come alongside a dock and help a passenger into the boat. Row 50 feet, stop, pivot, and come back to the dock. Help the passenger from the boat.
(b) Show sculling in good form over the stern for 25 yards. Turn underway, and return to starting point.

5. *Alone, or with one other person who is a swimmer, tip over a rowboat. Turn it right side up, get in, and row or paddle 25 yards with hands or oars. Tell why you should stay with a swamped boat.

6. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 25 yards to a swimmer. While giving instructions to the swimmer, turn the boat so that the swimmer may hold onto the stern. Tow him to shore.

7. Show and explain the proper use of anchors for rowboats.

8. Describe the following:

(a) Types of craft used in commercial, competitive, and recreational rowing.
(b) Four common boatbuilding materials. Give some good and bad points of each.
(c) Types of oarlocks used in commercial, competitive, and recreational rowing.

9. Discuss the following:

(a) The advantage of feathering oars while rowing.
(b) How to handle a rowboat in a storm.
(c) How to properly fit out and maintain a boat in season. How to prepare and store a boat for winter.
(d) How to calculate the weight a boat may carry under normal conditions.
(e) The differences between fixed seat and sliding seat rowing.
(f) The different meaning of the term "sculling" in fixed and sliding seat rowing.
(g) The health benefits from rowing for exercise.

* This requirement can be met in shallow water.