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You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘B’ / Bowloader

Bowloader

bow*load*er

What Is The Definition Of Bowloader In Rowing?

1. A bowloader is a type of boat in rowing in which the coxswain lies down in the bow of the boat.

What Is A Bowloader In Rowing? Definition & Meaning On SportsLingo

Typically, coxswains sit upright in the stern facing all of the rowers. In a bowloader, coxswains are with their back to the rowers and are lying down rather than sitting up.

What Boats In Rowing Can Be Bowloader Boats?

Coxed fours or pairs are usually bowloaders. In fact, most coxed fours you see in races these days are bowloaders. There are some bowloader eights in the rowing world, although this is less common. 

What Are The Advantages Of A Bowloader Boat?

Lying down in the bow of the boat lowers the coxswain’s center of mass below the water line. The added mass of the coxswain in the bow also reduces the bouncing of the boat. Both of these factors help to increase stability and reduce drag of the boat on the water and therefore makes bowloaders slightly faster than stern-coxed boats. 

In addition, the coxswain in a bowloader has a clear view of the course ahead because their vision is not blocked by the rowers sitting in front of them.

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Bowloader Boat?

In a bowloader the coxswain cannot directly see the rowers or what their blades are doing. This means that the coxswain must be much more experienced so that they have a better feel of what the boat and rowers are doing based solely on the feel and sound of the boat itself. 

Another disadvantage to a bowloader is that the coxswain is much farther away from the stroke seat in the boat, making it harder for the them to communicate important stroke information to the stroke seat who is setting the stroke rhythm. Additional amplification of the coxswain’s voice through speakers and a cox box is required.

Example Of How Bowloader Is Used In Commentary

1. At the 2015 Head of the Charles, Mary Whipple coxed in a bowloader four in the Women’s Championship Fours division.

Sport The Term Is Used

1. Rowing

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