Got team bags underfoot, a pile of boat straps, and a tree branch or two nearby? Turns out there's a Rowing Hack that pulls all of that together pretty well: Boat Strap Gear Hanging.

We spotted the Pine Crest School crews putting this clever idea to work at the Charles this year, and while we've already looked at how boat straps can do almost anything--plus some specific alternate uses over the years (see below)--this was new on us...and it is, in a word, slick.

Team gear left of the ground is hassle for all sort of reasons: things get lost, dirty, and just plain stepped on. Some teams solve this issue with another cool hack--The Portable Gear Rack--but why pack that whole set-up when you have just one or two boats at a big regatta like the Charles...and a heap of boat straps not doing anything better while the boat is on the water?

Now, we could see where this might get out of hand for several eights worth of backpacks, and you do need a good tree, but for the right number of athletes in the right spot, it might be worth packing some extra boat straps.

After all, straps don't take up much space, and this hack is a super easy way to help your athletes stow their stuff while they row--plus it could be a great way to re-purpose old straps that might be past their prime boat-trailering days.

For the record, here's a quick round-up of some other classic Boat Strap Hacks you might want to try:

• Rigger Straps
• The Boatman's Buddy
• The Oar-Carry Strap
• The Boat Strap 'Bucket'

And we are assuming everyone is hip to the greatest boat strap trick of all time: Strapping Boats Down Faster with Rock Climbing Hack.

Do you have a good "just use a boat strap" solution that your team uses? If so, share your ideas--and hacks--in the comments below.

If you have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion, then please send it to us and we will feature your idea in a future column.