contributed by John FX Flynn, row2k As all rowers know, it is impossible to move eight foot stretchers in any shell without encountering at least one wing nut that was last tightened by a person at least twice a strong as the person sitting there now . . . and so the call goes back to the coxswain--and sometimes all the way to the launch--for a "tool." This handy, home-made hack might be the best response we've seen yet to the incessant need for a wing nut tool. The "wing-nut stick" is made out of the handle of an old hockey stick (more on this below), but any similar sized piece of wood could work, especially pressure-treated wood. In fact, one of the better variations we've seen was just the handle of an old hammer, cut down and given the following "wing-nut-stick" makeover: A hole is drilled in the center of the end, to accommodate long bolts, and a notch about a quarter of its width is cut across the working end to grab the wings of the nut in question. So all you need is a stick, a saw, and a drill and you can have one of your very own (in fact, you could probably make it without any power tools at all, but where's the fun in that?). It is simple to make, cheap, it floats--which just about renders those first two virtues moot--and best of all it works really well by providing just the right amount of torque to loosen things up quick. Why a hockey stick? Well, like all good rowing hacks, this hockey stick version of this tool was made with what was handy and lying around the boathouse--in this case, a lot of old hockey gear that this particular university's team goes through like match sticks in the course of a season. The great thing about the hockey stick approach? Get a long enough stick, and you can hack enough tools for every coxswain in the boathouse to have two. How do you get those wing nuts loosened? What gets passed up towards the bow at your place when someone asks for a tool? If you've got a great, hacked tool for getting this job done, let us know in the comments. Have a great rowing hack for future inclusion here? Send it to us! SUPPORT ROW2K If you enjoy and rely on row2k, we need your help to be able to keep doing all this. Though row2k sometimes looks like a big, outside-funded operation, it mainly runs on enthusiasm and grit. Help us keep it coming, thank you! Learn more. Related Stories Making SURE You're Up for AM Practice The Strap Wheel CommentsLog in to comment Posting... Post Cancel (unknown) 01/11/2013  8:46:53 AM Wooden hockey sticks used to be the preferred tool and were free, but since the introduction of composites into the game, which, because of their thinness has no torque capacity, I use 7/16 and 10mm nut drivers with a notch cut into the "smart end" to accommodate a wing nut. In a perfect world these wing nuts would only be hand tight; but of course, this is not a perfect world and the last thing a rower needs is for his/her stretcher to move south during a sprint to the finish... they can also be used to tighten/loosen/take off riggers. report abuse bisweptual 10/26/2012  8:46:07 PM Loosen only! I can't stand it when people tighten with these things! report abuse Boatman 10/03/2012  11:31:00 AM I'm a big believer in hand tight. Use this tool for loosening only. When used for tightening it causes the the t of the stretcher to become bent. The t end of the stretcher bolt needs to be flat so the stretcher slides easily while adjusting. When it is bent it takes up more space in the stretcher track. This is a big problem with empachers. report abuse tiffer1984 07/02/2012  1:48:51 PM On page 26 of Rowing News magazine a year ago (July 2011), there's a breif article about The "Nashbar Mavic Cartridge Bearing Tool" -- can be used for cycling repair this product is also good for " .... any rower who wants to change their height on a cold day and knows that popping the washer off the oarlock can be difficult, especially with blistered fingers." Costs about ten dollars. Thanks Rowing News. report abuse Shift, not settle 03/04/2012  2:15:06 PM I've used copper piping, which tends to be more resilient than PVC or wood. I use a hacksaw to cut the notches at the end. Then I drill a hole about 1/4 of an inch from the top, slip in a 1/4-inch dowel, and then apply hot glue to lock the "handle" in place. report abuse Pma94301 02/09/2012  1:28:38 PM 1 people like this An old broom or rake handle cut into short sections works well too - you can make a few for the whole boathouse. If you drill an extra hole through the handle end you can thread a lanyard that will float a key or other tool (not that we ever drop tools into the water). report abuse tiffer1984 02/02/2012  10:55:35 AM Will my cramped fingers and migraine headaches go away? report abuse The64only 02/02/2012  10:55:13 AM I just use vespoli's multi-tool... report abuse rigger 02/01/2012  9:37:52 AM 1 people like this The threaded end of broken Vespoli top braces work well and don't wear out like wood or pvc. Cut 4" - 6" of threaded end, cut wingnut width slot down to the weld with hacksaw, bandsaw, or file. You can drill hole in non slot end for a lanyard or to thread a bolt through for a T-handle. Drawback is they don't float.. Nylon wingnuts work fine on plastic of stretcher ends, not so well when bearing on metal report abuse mattamhop 02/01/2012  7:32:37 AM 1 people like this Another option is to avoid the problem altogether. By swapping out stainless or brass wing-nuts and replacing them with nylon ones you get nuts that act like lock nuts. They also wear out faster, but they are really easy to replace, easier on the hands, and pretty cheap to buy. I had my crews use sticks like this (we called them wing-dings) but they became dependent on them because they also used them for tightening the nuts and there were never enough of them. It was just easier to avoid the problem altogether. report abuse ellenb 02/01/2012  6:24:04 AM 1 people like this A piece of narrow pvc pipe works , too -- no need to drill a hole for long bolts. report abuse Rowing Features Jamie Copus: Hopping the Pond and Hoping to Race for the USA February 28, 2023 Cross Training, Part 1: How Often & What Works February 27, 2023 Best Reader-Submitted Photos 2022 - October February 26, 2023 This Week's Best of Rowing on Instagram 2/25/2023 February 25, 2023 Rowing Headlines Florida Court Orders Reinstatement of FIT Men's Rowing by February 24 February 17, 2023 Henley Royal Princess Elizabeth Cup Rule Change Opens Event to Youth Club Crews February 13, 2023 Jesse Foglia Named Head Coach of USRowing Training Center Princeton; Galvanek and Siddal to Continue in Sarasota and Boston December 20, 2022 Sechser, Davison Named 2022 USRowing Athletes of the Year October 15, 2022

contributed by John FX Flynn, row2k

As all rowers know, it is impossible to move eight foot stretchers in any shell without encountering at least one wing nut that was last tightened by a person at least twice a strong as the person sitting there now . . . and so the call goes back to the coxswain--and sometimes all the way to the launch--for a "tool."

This handy, home-made hack might be the best response we've seen yet to the incessant need for a wing nut tool.

The "wing-nut stick" is made out of the handle of an old hockey stick (more on this below), but any similar sized piece of wood could work, especially pressure-treated wood. In fact, one of the better variations we've seen was just the handle of an old hammer, cut down and given the following "wing-nut-stick" makeover:

A hole is drilled in the center of the end, to accommodate long bolts, and a notch about a quarter of its width is cut across the working end to grab the wings of the nut in question. So all you need is a stick, a saw, and a drill and you can have one of your very own (in fact, you could probably make it without any power tools at all, but where's the fun in that?).

It is simple to make, cheap, it floats--which just about renders those first two virtues moot--and best of all it works really well by providing just the right amount of torque to loosen things up quick.

Why a hockey stick? Well, like all good rowing hacks, this hockey stick version of this tool was made with what was handy and lying around the boathouse--in this case, a lot of old hockey gear that this particular university's team goes through like match sticks in the course of a season. The great thing about the hockey stick approach? Get a long enough stick, and you can hack enough tools for every coxswain in the boathouse to have two.

How do you get those wing nuts loosened? What gets passed up towards the bow at your place when someone asks for a tool? If you've got a great, hacked tool for getting this job done, let us know in the comments.

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

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