row2k Features
Coxswain Tricks
The Bow Cam
September 26, 2012
row2k hackers

The Bow Cam, set to go

Unless your coxswain is an IT guy with a fondness for electronic gadgetry, this is probably not your average Coxswain's Trick, but it is a cool idea and quite literally a hacker's hack: the Coxswain's Bow Cam.

This hack is just what it sounds like: a bow-mounted camera that does a live video feed to an LCD screen in the coxswain's seat, giving the guy at the helm a "bow's eye" view of the race course. Putting aside issues of practicality (and waterproofing) aside, you have to give this one credit as a clever workaround for the old advice that most coxswains get--"just look around the stroke man to see where you are headed"--which never really works as well as coach thinks it does. This Bow Cam idea could even be a hint of things to come as cameras get smaller and start attaching themselves to, well, everything.

The hardware and specs are a bit beyond the scope of this column, but the system basically has a small camera and battery pack that slides into the bow marker clip, with wires that run back along the hull to the LCD screen in the coxswain's lap.

We talked to the man himself on this one, Scott Laffer, on how he came up with the idea and how he has used it:

"I came up with the idea a while ago when rowing and coxswain myself," Laffer said. "I was thinking about backup cameras and how they used those for backing up. Well, in rowing, you are going backwards and [it is] hard to see as well. Made sense since there would often be blind spots coxing (in stern coxed boats) and, in my little flyweight 1x, I also got sick of looking back--and that is when the bow cam was born.

"I've used it mainly for training for myself in the single, but it did come in handy coxing in unknown waters such as training for the Head of the Charles.

"I have not used it in any races yet: I called United States Rowing Association to inquire about racing with it and they were going to check into it, as they have never heard of such a thing and were not able to determine if it was an 'unfair advantage' as there is no rule (yet) on this modern technology. The funny part of the story was that they wanted to know were they could get one, and I was like, 'Well, if you find one let me know, because I had to piece this one together.'"

This is no simple hack, however, and Laffer has gone through a few versions to make sure that the batteries could last for a full practice--but he has added some improvements as well, including a tweak that lets him use the system with video goggles when he goes out in his single. Wild!

We're guessing that we won't be seeing this hack on too many boats anytime soon, but if you get really tired of the coxing screwing up the set every time they lean out to check out an upcoming turn--and you know a thing or two about electronics and have some time and money to burn--then maybe the Bow Cam is just what you need.

Have a crazy gadget that you hacked together to make your crew better? Share your tips--and hacks--in the comments below.

Have a great rowing hack that you'd like to suggest for future inclusion here? Send it to us!

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Comments

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mthomp1224
09/27/2012  4:31:30 PM
The Hyndsight Vision System will be avialable in mid 2013. Final field testing is occuring now and we will be accepting pre-orders shortly. I agree with Thecox guide that there is no substitute for being aware of your surroundiings but as we all know with increasing traffic on waterways, the ability to turn around to see over your shoulder in a single, double or quad your field of vision is limited at best.The Hyndsight product is designed to help rowers be safe on the water with a affordable device that can prevent costly collisions or injury in any size boat- coxed or not.


TheCoxGuide
09/27/2012  9:50:56 AM
The trick here, with Scott's cool tool or the Hyndsight equipment is that it should not be a substitute for coxswains (and scullers) using their eyes and ears first. The instinctive skills that need to be built upon through experience should be fostered before relying on technology. The tech is best for supplementing the true skills of coxing or toeing a boat. As an aside, most of the collisions I have knowledge of, that would seemingly be helped by these tools, were not caused by individuals not being able to see, but by those who were steering not being in the right place on the the body of water they were rowing. There is no substitute for knowing and strictly following the given traffic patterns. That followed with heads up, eyes moving, and always scanning around you.


lilrunner
09/27/2012  2:19:54 AM
Nice, @ mthomp Had been using it for a while (about a year) with lcd and video goggles and don't see where you can even order one of those (just concept)? Did not waste my time or money on a patent as I did not think it would be possible as its been around for years, being similar to the "backup camera". -Scott


mthomp1224
09/27/2012  12:37:20 AM
There is already a patent pending product in review by US rowing for racing on all boats made by a company called Hyndsight Vision Systems www.hyndsightvision.com It is awesome and is designed to work on any scull.check it out!



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