Home

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.

Requirements September 1995 until January 1998

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while rowing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the condition that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes

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

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

5. Alone or with a passenger, 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 and return to the starting point.
(d) Properly moor or rack your craft. Demonstrate your ability to tie the following mooring knots: clove hitch, roundturn with two half hitches, bowline, and hitching tie or mooring hitch.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 10 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.

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

10. 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.

11. 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 and 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.

Requirements January 1998 until April 1999

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while rowing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the condition that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.

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

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

5. Alone or with a passenger, 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 and return to the starting point.
(d) Properly moor or rack your craft. Demonstrate your ability to tie the following mooring knots: clove hitch, roundturn with two half hitches, bowline, and hitching tie or mooring hitch.

6. n 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.

7. 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.

8. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 10 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.

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

10. 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.

11. 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 and 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.

Requirements April 1999 until January 2007

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while rowing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, contusions, lacerations, and blisters.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the condition that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.

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

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

5. Alone or with a passenger, 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 and return to the starting point.
(d) Properly moor or rack your craft. Demonstrate your ability to tie the following mooring knots: clove hitch, roundturn with two half hitches, bowline, and hitching tie or mooring hitch.

6. Do ONE of the following:

(a) In a fixed-seat rowboat, come alongside a dock and help a passenger into the boat. Pull away from the dock, change positions with your passenger, and scull in good form over the stern for 10 yards, including at least one 180-degree turn. Resume tour rowing position, return alongside the pier, and help your passenger out of the boat.
(b) In a sliding-seat rowboat, come alongside a pier and, with your buddy assisting you, get out onto the pier. Help your buddy into the boat. Reverse roles with your buddy and repeat the procedure.
(c) Show sculling in good form over the stern for 25 yards. Turn underway, and return to starting point.

7. 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.

8. Alone in a rowboat push off from shore or dock. Row 10 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.

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

10. 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.

11. 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 and 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.