Boat booking
See which boats are free. Book from your phone. The system prevents double-bookings. A proper solution instead of shared spreadsheets.
How does Row HQ boat booking work?
Members open Row HQ on their phone, see which boats are free over the next few days, and tap to book. The system prevents double-bookings, shows whether a boat is in for repair, and keeps a record of who had it when - which matters if something comes back damaged. Admins set per-boat access rules so juniors are not booking the racing eight.
No More Booking Battles
Traditional boat booking causes friction at the slip. Here's how Row HQ fixes that.
Without Row HQ
- Paper sign-out sheets and spreadsheets that go missing or get damaged
- Double bookings causing arguments at the pontoon
- No way to check boat availability before leaving home
- Experienced members hoarding popular boats
- No record of who had the boat when damage was found
With Row HQ
- Digital booking from any device, anywhere
- Real-time availability prevents conflicts
- Check boat status before you head to the boathouse
- Fair access policies applied automatically
- Complete usage history for every boat in the fleet
Complete Fleet Management
Everything an Irish rowing club needs to manage boats, blades, and equipment properly. See how Oundle Town RC manages their fleet.
Real-Time Availability
Live view of which boats are free, booked, or in for repair right now. Members check from the member portal.
No Double-Bookings
The system will not let two members book the same boat at the same time.
Mobile Booking
Book a boat from your phone on the way to the club - it takes seconds.
Maintenance Status
Boats in for repair show as unavailable with an expected return date. Admins manage this from the admin dashboard.
Usage History
Full log of who used each boat and when - essential when damage is reported after an outing. Your data stays safe and secure.
Equipment Categories
Organise by boat type: singles, doubles, quads, eights. Filter to find what you need quickly.
Manage Your Entire Fleet
From singles to eights, track every piece of equipment in your boathouse. New to boat classes? See the glossary entry for all rowing boat types and what a rowing shell is. Coaches assign crews to boats using the visual crew builder.
Singles
Individual sculling
Doubles
Sculling pairs
Fours
Sweep with cox
Eights
Full sweep crew
Which boat fits which booking?
A quick guide to common rowing boat types and the booking rules Irish clubs typically apply.
| Hull | Crew size | Typical use | Common booking constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single (1x) | 1 | Sculling, individual training, novices learning the water | Most in-demand hull - members capped at 3 slots per week |
| Double (2x) | 2 | Paired sculling, mixed-experience outings | Both scullers must be on the booking - one withdraws, slot frees |
| Coxless four (4-) | 4 | Senior squad sweep training | Coach approval required, minimum experience level |
| Coxed four (4+) | 4 + cox | Junior crews, masters racing | Cox must be confirmed before the booking is valid |
| Quad (4x) | 4 | Sculling squad sessions, head-race preparation | Locked to senior squad rota slots only |
| Eight (8+) | 8 + cox | First eight training, championship regattas | Coach books on behalf of the crew - individuals cannot reserve |
Example boat types and typical booking constraints. Your fleet rules are fully configurable.
Related reading
- Keeping your fleet in top condition
- Getting training sessions sorted
- Crew selection tips for coaches
- What is a rowing shell?
- Every rowing boat type explained
- What is a scull? Sculling vs sweep
Have questions? Check the FAQ, read what other clubs say, or view pricing.
Boat booking system FAQs
Common questions from Irish clubs moving off paper sign-out sheets.
Members open the app, see a live calendar of every boat in the fleet, and tap to book the slot they want. The system blocks any conflicting booking before it happens, and the boat's status (available, booked, in maintenance) updates for everyone instantly. Admins set up the fleet once with photos, classes, and access rules; from then on the only manual task is marking a boat into or out of maintenance when something needs fixing. Bookings appear in each member's personal calendar so they get a reminder before heading down to the boathouse.
Yes. Every boat can have its own access rules: which membership categories can book it, whether a coach has to approve, and how far ahead bookings open. Most clubs lock racing shells to senior squad members, restrict the junior fleet to under-18s, and put a coach-approval gate on newer acquisitions. The rules apply automatically - juniors do not even see the racing eight in their available list. If a member tries to book a boat they are not permitted on, the system explains why and points them to who can grant access.
Yes - this is the core promise. Once a boat is booked for a slot, no other member can book the same slot. The booking rules can also enforce minimum gaps between bookings (so the same boat is not back-to-back without a proper rest), maximum daily bookings per member (so one sculler does not monopolise the racing single), and overlap with training sessions (so the boat is held for the squad outing). Members get a clear conflict message if they try to book over an existing slot, with the option to join the waitlist if the original booking is cancelled.
Every booking creates an audit record - which member, which boat, what time, what duration. The full history stays on file even after the booking ends, which is invaluable when damage is reported and you need to know who was last out in that hull. Admins can pull a usage report per boat (how many hours, who used it most, how many maintenance flags) or per member (which boats they tend to book, whether they no-show often). The data exports cleanly to CSV for end-of-season fleet reviews before the AGM.
Yes. Admins move a boat into maintenance from the admin dashboard, add a note about what is wrong and an expected return date, and the boat immediately drops out of the available list. Members trying to book see a clear "in maintenance until {date}" message rather than wondering why the hull has disappeared. When the repair is done, the admin clears the flag and the boat is back in circulation. Maintenance history is logged per boat so you can spot the hulls that are eating most of your repair budget in the run-up to the Irish Championships.