Tips on general upkeep to help extend the life of your Van Dusen Advantage or Traditional rowing shell

On a daily basis during your rowing season:

Clean tracks and seat wheels with a rag or towel and water (grease may build up in the wheel bearings).

Hose down boat, especially the aluminum parts if you row on salt or brackish water.

Wipe down oarlocks. Excessive grease attracts dirt, which will grind down the oarlock and oar-sleeves.

Open ports and stern cork to allow air to flow through the hull and dry out residual moisture.

Soap and water are usually sufficient to clean all surfaces, and washing your boat with Formula 409 will prevent river crud or salt from accumulating.

Several times a year:

Your boat should have an entire inspection, clean-up and lube job, especially if you row in salt water. This should be done before storing the boat for periods longer than a week or two.

Apply grease to all the metal parts that fit or bolt together. Spray-on oils, although convenient, do not last nearly as long, and their solvents may actually wash heavier oils away. These metal parts include the seat wheel bearings, lockplates, pins, and wing rigger thumb screws. Take the parts apart to lube them, this will keep them easy to adjust in the future. Traditional Van Dusen shells require greasing of the rigger bolts.