These do strip, especially if the oars were re-rigged or tightened hastily with a Phillips head screwdriver that did not quite fit right. Here is an easy hack that will help you get past the problem.

For this hack, take the blade of a hacksaw (no pun intended), and notch the stripped head so that you can use a standard, flat blade screwdriver to loosen the stripped screw (note: since the screws on a collar of this type are in close quarters, removing the blade from the hacksaw frame is key to the operation).

Once you get it free, we recommend tossing that hacksawed bolt: getting the oars adjusted or even just tightened on race-day will go a lot faster if all the bolt-heads in the set are uniform (also, unless you have a hacksaw in your travel kit, you might want to check all those bolts while you are still at home and have all your tools handy).

This trick also works on rigger bolts, if your shell has bolts with screwheads - you can find these both on older boats, where a replacement bolt has been used, and on some newer shells, particularly on front and back stays.

By the way, the right-sized Phillips head driver can keep things from stripping and, for the record, it is a number 2. Why is that important to know? Simple: because the best hacker trick of them all is having the right tool for the job in the first place.

Got a trick that has gotten you out of a rigging jam? Share your tips--and hacks--in the comments below.

Have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion here? Send it to us!