Originally made of wood (some still are) rowing shells are now usually made with layers of carbon fibre, fibreglass and plastic. These boats are extremely lightweight and narrow, allowing the rowers to slice through the water. Each bow is covered by a bow ball - a small round piece of rubber that not only helps to judge photo finishes, but also helps to protect people from serious injury if the boat collides with another shell.

Each rower sits on a sliding seat that rolls on wheels along a fixed track called the slide. Feet are tied into shoes which are bolted onto footplates in the boat. Each oar is held in place by riggers, which extend from the saxboard. The rigger holds the gate in which the oar sits.

The gate is carefully set up so that the oar is held in the water with a specific amount of pitch or tilt. This is usually about 5 degrees at the midpoint of the stroke although it does not change through the stroke.

Footplate or Stretcher - fixture in boat that contains shoes screwed into a piece of wood. This contraption holds the rower's feet into the boat and is the only part of the boat where the rower is firmly attached.
The shoes have quick release velcro straps, but should not be over tightened as you may need to release your feet in the event of a capsize.
The position of the feet is adjustable to accommodate different height rowers. This is achieved by loosening the three wing nuts securing the stretcher to the tracks and then lifting and sliding the footplate to the required position. If you are rowing in the same boat regularly, it is a good idea to remember the position of the shoes so that you can adjust the boat before you get in.

Saxboard - this is the top side of the boat - the edges onto which the riggers are bolted.

Gate - the small plastic part at the end of the rigger that opens at the top. The rower opens the gate, places the oar into it, then shuts the top metal bar, screwing it tightly shut. The gate holds the oar in place during the rowing stroke.

Rigger - The metal support attached to the saxboard that holds the gate.

Slide - the tracks underneath each seat which the wheels of the seat slide on, allowing the rower to move back and forth in the boat, utilising their full leg power.

Cox Box - a device used by the cox, consisting of a microphone and speakers, that amplifies the cox's voice throughout the boat.