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Steering a Boat

It is not a difficult matter to steer, but there are a few instructions to be attended to. First, the position of the coxswain should be easy with legs crossed at the ankles so as to separate the knees. Grasp the lines firmly so that you can "feel" the tiller; a turn of the line round the hands will give the necessary hold, (It is a good plan to fasten the lines round you in front.) Lean forward a trifle as the boat is pulled. The right-hand line will steer to the right, and left to the left, but in all cases steer "small." Do not by a long pull at the lines turn the boat far to either side. Look well ahead and give room for the oars or sculls near a bank. In going up stream keep out of the current under the bank and keep inside descending boats, permitting towing and following boats to go inside of you. In descending keep the centre of the river where the steam is usually strongest. The greatest pull should be on your "lines" when the oars are out of the water, such a course will lighten the rowers' labour. Due allowance should be made for the breeze by keeping the boat's head out, and put the boat's head up to the "wash" when a steamer has passed.

When a crew are steered by a competent coxswain, they ought to be perfectly obedient to his commands, rowing exactly as he tells them. His orders are communicated by the following words, viz. when desiring his crew to row he says, "Pull all;" or if wishing any one oar to be pulled, he says "Pull bow," or "Pull, No. 3," or 4, &c. as the case may be. If they are to stop rowing, he says "Easy all," or for any one oar, "Easy bow," or No. 2. The same kind or order is conveyed when "backing" or "holding water" is desired; the only variation, as before, being between confining his order to any one or more oars, or extending it to all. In this way all the evolutions practicable on the water are managed, and the coxswain has complete control over the boat, being able to cause her to be rowed slowly or quickly, or to be stopped, backed, or turned on her own centre.