This boat, like nearly all English Eights, was "side-seated," i.e. the centre of the seat, instead of being over the kelson, was set away from it, and from the outrigger. Bow's and stroke's seats were 2½ ins. from centre, No. 5's 3½ ins. Nearly all Fours and Pairs in England are now centre-seated, as are Eights in America. Of course, with centre-seating, assuming that you want the same leverage, you require a longer outrigger. Otherwise, the only difference between the two systems would seem to be that with centre-seating you naturally align the bodies better.
[7] A few very short-bodied men have to be "built-up," i.e. their seats have to be raised even higher than this to enable them to clear their knees and to swing. This, however, should not be done unless absolutely necessary, as it tends to make the boat unsteady.
Since 1891 boat-builders have somewhat increased the length of the boats they build, and it is not uncommon now to find boats with a measurement of 63 feet and a few inches over all. The boat whose measurements I have given had, if I remember rightly, a slightly wider beam at No. 3 stretcher than she had amidships. I have noticed, and my experience in this respect confirms that of Mr. W. B. Woodgate, though it is entirely opposed to the Rev. A. T. Shadwell's theories, that a boat with a full beam somewhere between No. 4 and No. 3 is always a fast one. A boat should never dip her head, but should always maintain it free.
Measurement of Oars.
On this matter there is now a great divergence of opinion amongst rowing men. From 1891 inclusive up to the present year, the Leander crews have, with trifling divergences, rowed with oars built on the following measurements:—
[Note.—These are what are called square blades, i.e. the widest part came at the end. Barrel blades are those in which the widest part comes about the middle. In 1893 an extra half-inch was added out-board. In 1896 the length of the Leander oars over all was only 11 ft. 11⅛ ins., the in-board measurement being 3 ft. 8 ins. With these oars the Leander crew defeated Yale, and in the next heat, after a very severe struggle, rowed down and defeated New College, who were rowing with oars three inches longer out-board. Here are the measurements of the oars with which the Eton crew won the Ladies' Plate in 1885—
| ft. | ins. | |
|---|---|---|
| Over all | 12 | 6 |
| In-board | 3 | 7½ |
| Length of blade | 2 | 5 |
| Breadth of blade near shank | 0 | 6⅜ |
| Breadth of blade at end | 0 | 5 |
(These blades were "coffin"-shaped on a pattern invented by Dr. Warre.)]