Believe it or not, mariners today are compelled to spend a few days launching, recovering and rowing lifeboats around the bat at their local Coast Guard base or Maritime Academy , even though they are by and large a thing of the past in today's commercial fleet. I certainly did.
Here are a few commands you
"Stand by the Oars"
Oarlocks are placed in sockets, oars are rested on the gunwales, blades flat and pointed towards the bow and resting against rowlock of man behind in order from aft forward.
"Out Oars"
Lift oars and place them in rowlocks with blades trimmed fore and aft (flat).
"Stand by to Give Way"
(may or may not be given)Follow the man in front of you, lean forward, push wrists over and dip blades halfway into the water.
"Give way together or Give way"
Follow man in front of you, pulling blade through the water.
"Hold water/Back water port, give way starboard"
Gradual/sharp starboard turn
"Hold water all"
Drop blades in the water, vertically. This command slows the boat.
"Trail Oars"
This command is given when passing an obstruction or another boat. The oars are dragged alongside of the boat with the tips of the blades opposite the motion of the boat.
"Oars'
Blades are brought temporarily out of the water, blades trimmed fore and aft. The command is given after a turn is made and after rowing in an astern motion, to get oarsmen together, given between every command, except "way enough" and "trail oars".
"Stern all/Backwater all"
Oarsmen row in an astern (backward) motion.
"Toss/Up Oars"
Oars are raised to the vertical, blades trimmed fore and aft.
"Let Fall"
Oars are lowered from "Toss Oars" position to "Oars" position.
"In Bows"Two oarsmen in the bow of the boat, boat the oars and help fend off or pick up a man in the water.
"Way Enough"
Complete stroke, swing oars into the boat together, take rowlocks out of sockets, bring lifelines into boat.
"Stand by the bow/stern"
"Secure the bow/stern"When returning to the dock, and after "way enough" rowers in bow and stern secure the boat with the bow and stern lines.
"Bank/Cross Oars"
Draw the oar through the oarlock until the handle rests on the opposite gunwale. This command is given after the command oars.
"Boat the Oars"
All oars brought into the boat with the handles aft and blade forward.