Bowloader

A small number of bowloader eights exist, and one was raced by the Soviet Union in the 1988 Olympics and the 1989 Royal Henley Regatta, as well as the Russian men's crew at the 2002 World Rowing Junior Championships.

Steering is difficult because the bow swings less than the stern, so that the coxswain has trouble judging how much the boat has moved laterally, and this problem is exacerbated in an eight.

[1] A bowloader is slightly faster than a stern-coxed boat, since the mass of the coxswain in the bow reduces porpoising, and the semi-supine position puts the coxswain's center of mass below the waterline, reducing roll.

Novice coxswains often have difficulty with bowloaders, however, since the rowers and their oars cannot easily be seen.

Experienced coxswains learn how to feel the movements of the rowers in the boat, as well as visualising the position of the shell itself to safely and effectively maneuver it.