How Dragon Boating can Save your Rowing Club Finances

During times of financial instability we know one thought is at the fore-front of all rowing club manager\’s minds: how do we make money and keep our club afloat!?  Well we have a very simple solution for you, and it breathes fire.  We\’re talking dragon boats.

Dragon What?

Firmly established in the boating world and growing with popularity, dragon boats are seen far beyond the Hong Kong market.  They\’re visually attractive vessels propelled by the power of 22 members.  This makes them a fantastic team sport far better than double sculling if you\’re looking to make a few friends.  Additionally, it just takes a few simple calculations to realise that with each crew you can add an additional 20+ members to your club at roughly £300 a pop imagine how many scullers you\’d have to sign up to make up those numbers!

Due to these high returns, dragon boating will pay for itself and its mechanical storage in as little as ONE YEAR, which makes it a safe investment to keep your club flourishing during these precarious times.

Don\’t just take our word for it 

Below we have an interview with the Secretary of the Queensland Dragon Boat Club Julie Elliot.  They were recently the first rowing club to install amechanical dragon boat stacker in their new boat house and are eagerly awaiting their re-opening in October.

1. What got you into dragon boat racing?

I have always loved water sports and love keeping fit. The first time I watched a dragon boat race I thought it looked like a lot of fun, but a challenge at the same time; Having 22 people in a boat is never easy to get everyone on the same page! So I gave it a go and here I am 8 years later and still loving it!

1. What do you love about dragon boating?

The camaraderie and of course when we race the thrill of 20 people all paddling in sync, not to mention the drummer and sweep willing us to win!

1. As the secretary of a dragon boat club, what do you see as the benefit of offering dragon boats over (or along with) rowing and sculling?

Of course there are a number of benefits, Dragon Boats just by its nature attracts large numbers, so immediately you feel part of a large family.

1. Dragon boating is a great team sport due to the number of people required to power the vessel.  Do you think this makes a difference in the club atmosphere?

Absolutely it makes a difference to the Club atmosphere. I guess with any large team sports the camaraderie would be high and it\’s no different in dragon boats. Gold Coast Dragons is a small community and having the numbers means we are able to give back to our local community as well. Annually we host events such as the Cancer Council Queensland Dragon Boat regatta, which usually raises around $10,000 for the charity and we host \’come & try\’ days for the Varsity Lakes Community to encourage people to embrace the sport and at the same time get fit.

1. What have been the teams\’ reactions to the new Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker from Space Saver Rowing Systems?  

Obviously we are all excited. Previously we had to store our boats on trailers or trolleys and this required at lot of space. Having the Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker now means we can store our boats safely and neatly without the added worry of our crew injuring themselves lifting the heavy boats.

1. Why did you choose this design?

We wanted a stacking system that could cater for heavy loads and eliminate the risk of back injury or dropping the boats! We looked at the rowers stacking system and wondered whether that design could be tailored to suit our needs. So we approached Douglas and he was able to come up with this design for us.

1. Is it easy to use?

It\’s very easy to use. It now only takes a few people to load or unload the boats and once the boat is loaded onto the arm of the mechanical stacker it is as simple as pressing the button to raise it, to store the next one underneath. (See for yourself here)

1. What are some of the benefits you\’ve noticed to having a mechanised stacker?  

As well as the obvious benefits, it now takes half the time to store our boats. Which gives more time to do what GCD do best and that\’s paddle hard and play harder!

Courtesy of the Queensland Dragon Boat Club – Check out their website