To join as a new member, you must have experience as a rower or coxswain with the sport of rowing in a shell with sliding seats.  Your experience need not necessarily be extensive and you don't need to be highly skilled.  Most importantly, you need to know "how to row"; knowledge of procedures, nomenclature, commands and technique. You should also be in good physical condition and able to lift and carry 30 pounds over your head.  If you join as an experienced rower and our coach determines that your experience is not adequate, we will suggest that you join our annual Learn-to-Row Program.

To join as an Experienced Member or to participate in our annual Learn-to-Row Program, you must be a high school student or older.  You should also be in good physical condition and able to lift and carry 30 pounds over your head.

See USRowing They explain it best.

See our Sculling Page

No.  Our agreement with the University does not permit private boat storage at the boathouse.  Private boats may be car topped and launched at the dock at the Kingston end of the lake.

In addition to your annual dues, you will be assessed a seat fee of $6.35 for each rowing session, both on-the-water and indoor sessions.  Participation in the racing program is extra.  You will be emailed a monthly bill.  Please keep a positive balance.

Upon receipt of your monthly email Invoice, please pay your outstanding balance for annual dues and seat fees by eCheck, credit card or with a check.  You may overpay your balance to keep a positive balance.

Yes.  You may overpay your balance to keep a positive balance.

Parking is not permitted in the boathouse parking lot.  Use nearby campus lots and take the short walk to the boathouse. Consider Lot 21, East Visitors Parking Lot, as an option.  Plenty of space, well lit lot and path to the boahouse, path clerred of snow and only a seven minute walk to the boathouse.  You may, however, park in the boathouse parking lot if you sign up to be a coxswain as your first choice.   Be safe when you walk in the dark to the boathouse for your morning row.  Walk with others and carry a light.

We don't have a boathouse.  We are guests of Princeton University in their boathouse.  See directions to the boathouse.

The Class of 1887 Boathouse was built in 1913 and renovated in 2000 as the C.Bernard Shea '16 Rowing Center.

Lake Carnegie is approximately three miles long from the head of the lake at Alexander Road to the dam in Kingston.

It keeps the geese off and helps to keep the dock clean.  Actually, it's not the buckets that keep them off; it's the line between the buckets that keeps them away.  They are afraid to cross over the line.  It only works if everyone remembers to replace the buckets after they get off the lake.  If you are the last boat off the lake, replace the orange buckets to keep the geese off.  It really does work.

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No.  Our agreement with Princeton University does not allow club members independent use of the facilities at the boathouse; ergs, tanks, boats, weight room, etc.  All club activities at Princeton University must be scheduled, organized and supervised.

When choosing your rowing clothes, stay away from loose items. Baggy items can become caught in the boat’s equipment, and you may find that your range of motion is restricted by loose material. Avoid items made with cotton, since these will become heavy as they get wet. Wear a snug T-shirt made of synthetic fibers, such as a spandex top that’s designed for running. Opt for either long or short sleeves, depending on the weather. Add a close-fitting waterproof windbreaker on top to keep you dry and warm. On extra chilly days, wear a fleece sweatshirt or jacket under your windbreaker.
Form-fitting fabric is just as important on your lower half as your top half, since baggy pants can become tangled in your sliding seat as you row. Wear stretchy bike shorts on hot days, or pull on some spandex yoga pants or runner’s leggings for colder days. You might also layer a pair of shorts or fleece pants over your spandex to give your rear end some warmth and padding. Never wear jeans to row, as they won’t allow you to move freely and they’ll get soggy and heavy when wet.

 

Princeton University has a policy at the boathouse. 

Yes, toilets located under the outdoor stairs, adjacent to the second floor weight room (women) and adjacent to the small erg room (men) are available to members during rowing sessions.  Do not use the Princeton team's locker rooms.

No.  If you need to shower and change after a rowing session, you may use the auxiliary shower rooms and toilets located on the second floor adjacent to the small erg room (men) or adjacent to the weight room (women).  In general, please arrive dressed and ready to row and, if possible, go home sweaty.

One informal way to communicate with club members is to post on the club's Facebook page.  However, not all members subscribe.  E-mail addresses are also listed in the membership directory on the club's web site to facilitate communications among individual members or small groups.  If you wish to communicate with all club members contact the Communications Responsibility Center and explain what you would like to do.  Depending on the circumstances, they may include your information in the next version of LakerNotes or send out an e-blast to club members.

Find an appropriate substitute.  If you can't find an appropriate substitute, you will be marked as a "no show" and assessed a seat fee.  Do not contact the coach, but please let the captain know so we are aware that you are a "no show".

You may show up for the rowing session and take your chances as an "extra".  You may be needed to fill out a boat.  Do not contact the coach or the captain.

We will not go out on the water if there is thunder and/or lightning in the area.  We then often have an indoor training session.  We seldom cancel a rowing session in advance, although sometimes with severe weather predictions (heavy snow, severe cold or hurricanes), we will post a cancellation notice on our website home page.  In most cases, you should report to the boathouse, regardless of weather.  Cancellation decisions will be made at the beginning of the rowing session.

The coach makes all the boat assignments.  Depending on who signs up and how many sign up, you probably will row with those of the same gender and skill.  Sometimes, however, the coach may have lineups with a mix of gender and skill.

Yes.  Although we have members who only cox, all members will occasionally be assigned as a coxswain by the coach.  Everyone shares this coxing obligation.  To avoid being surprised by a coxing assignment, sign up to cox and come prepared.  Always have enough warm gear with you, in the event you are assigned as a cox.  See our Coxing page for more information on coxing, scheduled clinics and the Coxing Manual.

Yes.  The club has a race schedule and all members are encouraged and eligible to participate.  All members will be notified when race sign ups are available.

Do not take your shoes in the boat.  It helps to keep dirt out of the tracks and avoids unnecessary maintenance.  Your coxswain will collect your shoes before you get in and return them to you after the row.

Yes.  Protect the boat interior.  Wrap your water bottle in a sock or a shirt.   In their effort to reduce the use of bottled water, the Princeton University Office of Sustainability installed filters on campus drinking fountains. Please help with this effort and bring your reusable bottle to rowing sessions. You can fill up your bottle with the spigot on the boathouse water fountain.

 It's impossible.  You can't.  Or maybe you can; look.