Thompson Boat Center-FAQs

Lesson, Program-what's the difference?
Lessons at TBC are non-community and recreational, do not require rowing experience, and are limited to 1 or 2 week sessions. Programs are usually community and recreational, requiring rowing experience, and run from 4 to 13 weeks.

It's been awhile but I know how to row already, do I have to take any lessons?
Lessons at TBC cater to all individuals of different levels of rowing skill . If you believe that you should not have to take any rowing instruction you may work with a TBC instructor who will advise you as to the best course of action. TBC will rent shells to individuals who have been certified through TBC lessons or can prove rowing skills to a TBC sculling instructor. During the June-September season, TBC instructors are at TBC in the early mornings and late afternoons, weekdays. Please do not make an attempt to prove your rowing skill at TBC mid-day or out of season; there is no instructor on site during those times to verify rowing skills. TBC prefers individuals with rowing experience to take a refresher lesson to familiarize themselves with the traffic pattern and hazards of the upper Potomac River.

I'm a coxswain, do I have to pay?
Coxswains are not required to pay for program participation but TBC does require that coxswains sign a waiver (PDF) to participate.

When can I sign up for lessons and programs?
TBC’s on-water season program typically runs from March to mid-November each year and lessons are given from April to September. Lesson sign-up begins in March.

Can I register for a program over the telephone?
No. Only signed, paid, completed registration forms will be considered for lessons and programs. Further, we cannot hold spots in programs for individuals. Please complete a registration form with payment and either fax, mail or drop it off in person at the boathouse office. You will receive a notice via phone or email either confirming your placement in a program, or informing you that you are on a wait list for your desired program. Please see Registration for more information on "Terms and Conditions of Registration." See a list of session dates for all Lessons and Programs.

Are there spots available in the lesson/program I want?
Due to the volume of registrations and phone calls we reeceive, we are unable to take hone queries about the status of a program. Your best option is to send in a registration form and payment as soon as you know which program you want. To determine who fills any given class, we go by the postmark or date of fax on each registration. The sooner you can get a registration to us, the better your chances are of getting in! We do not charge credit card accounts or deposit checks for wait-listed registrations. We will only process your payment once you are confirmed in a particular class.

Why was I placed on a waiting list?
Rowing programs at TBC are extremely popular. Each program has a finite capacity determined by coaching and equipment availability. If a program reaches its capacity, we compile a wait-list of subsequent registrations, arranged in the order in which they are received. Should registrants drop out of a full-capacity program before its starting date, we will begin adding names from the wait list until the program is full again. To be added to a wait list, simply submit a registration form and payment as usual.

What do I do while I’m on the waiting list?
The TBC staff will contact you by phone as soon as we are able to accommodate you in a program for which you were wait listed. There is no need to call the office to check on your status on the wait list. We are very conscientious about contacting people when we know there is room for them. Sometimes a spot opens just before or shortly after the start date of a program — we appreciate your patience, and will notify you immediately if we can fit you into a program. If we are unable to accommodate you after a program is underway, we will return your registration, and ask you to try for another term’s programs.

Couldn’t you just squeeze me into the class I want?
TBC’s goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable rowing experience for all. We keep this goal in mind as we establish capacity limits for programs. Once a program hits its maximum enrollment, adding more participants would create a shortage of equipment and compromise the coaches’ ability to conduct their program safely and effectively. We’re excited that our programs are gaining popularity, but in most cases, we must limit program size. Please see Registration for more information on "Terms and Conditions of Registration."

Are TBC Junior programs run by local school teams?
The Junior programs at Thompson Boat Center have no official affiliation with local schools or clubs. Often, coaches of school teams rowing out of TBC are on the TBC coaching staff. TBC programs are open to ANYONE; however, spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

What is the Refund/Credit policy?
If you withdraw from a program at least 48 hours before the start date/time, you may receive a credit for another program in the same year. If you withdraw from a program less than 48 hours before the start date of the program, you will not receive a refund or credit. Credits or transfers may not be carried over into the next season, and may not be used by another participant. NO REFUNDS, CREDITS OR TRANSFERS WILL BE GIVEN WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE START DATE OF THE PROGRAM. Individual session cancellations due to holidays and weather or other uncontrollable circumstances will not be re-scheduled. See Registration for more information on "Terms and Conditions of Registration."

Why are there attendance requirements for certain programs?
For lessons such as Beginning Sculling, TBC requires mandatory attendance during Mondays of each new session. We established this policy to ensure that all participants are familiar with basic boat handling techniques and safety concerns before they launch onto the river. Additionally, we require that participants attend at least 80% of the program’s sessions. If you cannot attend the first week of any given session, or know you will not be able to meet the minimum attendance requirement, please register for a lesson/program at another date or time.

Can I make up my absences by attending another program?
Unfortunately, due to coaching and equipment limitations, we cannot allow participants to attend programs other than those in which they are confirmed participants. Absences may not be made up by attending another section of your program.

What are the age classifications for Juniors?
A junior is a competitor who will not attain the age of 19 during the season year, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma. A junior 16 is a competitor who will not attain the age of 17 during the season year. A competitor's age is determined as of December 31.

Junior B-A rower and coxswain will be classified a Jr.B until December 31st of the year they reach the age of 16. For a Canadian Regatta, an athlete born in 1987 or later shall be eligible for Junior B competition.

Junior A-A rower and coxswain no longer a Jr. B shall be classified a Jr. until December 31st of the year in which they reach the age of 18. For a 2004 Canadian Regatta, an athlete born in 1985 or later shall be eligible to row Junior.

What is available on weekends?
TBC is not currently offering lessons on weekend days. Junior Programs will occasionally practice on weekends.

Can I rent a boat for the day?
TBC will rent boats to any individuals who have been certified through TBC lessons or can prove rowing skills to a sculling instructor. During the June-September season instructors are at TBC in the early mornings and late afternoons, weekdays. Please do not come to TBC mid-day or out of season, as there is no one on site during those times to verify your rowing skills. We prefer individuals with rowing experience to take a refresher lesson to familiarize themselves with the traffic pattern and hazards of the Potomac River.

It’s raining—do we still have class today?
Yes —Instructional programs at TBC meet rain or shine as scheduled. If lightning, wind or other weather factors are severe enough, participants will not be permitted on the water, and will have an alternative indoor instructional class — but class will not be cancelled. If you feel the weather prevents you from safely getting to TBC, please let your coach know you will not be attending class.

What do I wear?
The basic guidelines are these: LAYERS — dress appropriately for the weather, including a windbreaker or Gore-Tex shell if necessary, but make sure you can shed layers when you begin to warm up on the water. DIRTY — your rowing clothes will get dirty. If you have shoes, pants, anything that can’t get dirty — don’t wear it to the boathouse. COMFY and SNUG — your clothing should allow you to move freely and be comfortable. Baggy pants, shorts, and shirts, however, tend to get stuck in the sliding seat upon which you will row. Your best bet is a pair of shorts or leggings similar to cycling pants, and a shirt that can be tucked in.

Are there showers/locker rooms at the boathouse?
Yes. Shower and locker room use is restricted to slip holders and rowing lesson/program participants. We advise all rowers to bring a lock and use lockers on a daily basis to ensure security of their personal items. TBC is not responsible for items lost or stolen from the boathouse. Although rare, we have had instances of theft of items left out in the locker room and lobby areas. There are keypad locks on all locker room doors, the staff will provide you with the code. Please take measures to protect your belongings.

I own my own single — can I store it at TBC?
A limited number of storage racks are available for single sculls, kayaks and canoes. Rack space is assigned from a waiting list; at present, there is at least a 1-2 year wait. Our storage is reserved for annual contracts only. To learn more about racks go to our Storage area.

Can I reserve a bike or boat ahead of time?
No. We cannot hold any rental equipment. Rental is first-come, first-serve.

Do you rent equipment overnight?
No. TBC rents equipment by the hour or by the day. Three hours or more is considered "day rate." All equipment must be returned two hours before closing time.

Do you rent motorboats?
No. Thompson Boat Center motorboats are used as safety and coaching vessels. All other motorboats belong to the rowing teams that use TBC for storage.

How does the rowing pass work?
Rowing passes are for customers who wish to rent TBC rowing singles and double shells on a regular basis. Currently shell rental is $13.00/hr. per person. For a $125 (plus tax) rowing pass you receive 11 rows per person, for a $175 (plus tax) pass you receive 17 rows per person giving a significant savings for frequent rowers.

The launch window for rowpass users is significantly larger than for daily renters. The rowpass launch policy is as follows:

Passes may be purchased at the front desk and require acertification card as proof of single shell rowing skill. Passes are only valid within the year they are purchased, no refunds for unused pass outings, absolutely no exceptions.

Why can’t I reach a real person on the phone?
Each customer's call is important to us at TBC. The facility is equipped with two phone line to handle all calls from rowing and rental customers. A voicemail recording does not mean we are ignoring you! Usually we’re busy answering others’ questions. Our Web site and voicemail are designed to help answer your questions, but customers are encouraged to leave messages when they haven’t found the information they need. The office staff is prompt about returning calls, and barring extenuating circumstances, can usually answer your questions within the same business day. Leaving a daytime and evening number increases our chances of returning your call efficiently.

Who do I contact in case of emergency at the center?
For emergency situations, you can call 911 from the main lobby phone. GW hospital is just down the street.

Is the boat center staffed on weekends?
Yes. Our rental staff is very busy on weekends from March to September and our rowing programs staff usually spends spring weekends administering local Potomac River competitions. If you are calling for information, please feel free to leave messages, with the understanding that we will attend to them the following Monday.

Do you rent out the Boat Center for functions and parties?
No. TBC does not rent out the facility.

Thompson Boat Center FAQ