It is never a bad time for a pro-Hydration Hack, but we think this week might just be the perfect time to share another great way to keep your fluids handy, especially if you are, say, a single-sculler braving the Sarasota sun this weekend -- it's the South African Hydration Holder. It is a simple, elegant take on pretty popular trick, all the way from Victoria Lake in Johannesburg, where Bernd Jülicher has done a bit of slick engineering at Ravens Boat Club to add a water bottle cage to his single. Bernd, inspired by such Rowing Hack classics as the Water Bottle Holder Hack and the Zipped Bottle Holder, added an aluminum bracket to the end of the foot stretcher track to add a bit of hydration help to the cockpit of his ride. The aluminum bracket gives Bernd an easy way to attach the bottle cage at a height where he can easily grab the water bottle between pieces...and the whole thing is, he assures us, adjustable if he wants to move his foot stretchers. Bernd is actually making use here of some prime hacking "real estate"--foot stretcher channels offer great hard points for attaching all sorts of things, from speed coach brackets to coxbox speakers in bigger boats. We have even seen them used to affix weight at races where the "scales are open" and the boat weight rules are in effect. All you really need to start putting those channels to work holding stuff is an extra foot stretcher bolt and (of course) a wing-nut, which will keep it all easily-adjustable in case you want to move your feet, or the shell is shared with other rowers. Bottom-line, though: keep some water in your shell and stay hydrated out there. Whether you go all fancy like Bernd to attach your water bottle permanently, or just throw a sock on it, you are going to want to have your water with you when you row. Do you have a water bottle hack that works for you, and might inspire some other scullers? If so, share your tips--and hacks--in the comments below. If you have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion, send it to us like Bernd did here, and we will feature your idea in a future column. SUPPORT ROW2K If you enjoy and rely on row2k, we need your help to be able to keep doing all this. Though row2k sometimes looks like a big, outside-funded operation, it mainly runs on enthusiasm and grit. Help us keep it coming, thank you! Learn more. Related Stories Rowing Hack: The Single Sculler Elevator Rowing Hack: Using row2k Pics to Coach Yourself Rowing Hack Redux: The Erg Sanitizer Bottle Cage Rowing Hacks: The PVC Back Stay Stower CommentsLog in to comment Posting... Post Cancel There are no Comments yet Rowing Features This Week's Best of Rowing on Instagram 8/13/2022 August 13, 2022 Life is a Metaphor for Rowing, Ch. 21: A Nuanced World August 12, 2022 Technique Feature: Body Prep and Catch August 8, 2022 This Week's Best of Rowing on Instagram 8/7/2022 August 7, 2022 Rowing Headlines Arshay Cooper and the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund Conclude Inaugural Year August 11, 2022 Six Boats Accept Spots on 2022 Senior National Team Squad June 30, 2022 Florida Tech (FIT) Cuts Men's and Women's Rowing, Three Other Sports June 28, 2022 EARC Announces Major Awards for 2022 Season June 14, 2022

It is never a bad time for a pro-Hydration Hack, but we think this week might just be the perfect time to share another great way to keep your fluids handy, especially if you are, say, a single-sculler braving the Sarasota sun this weekend -- it's the South African Hydration Holder.

It is a simple, elegant take on pretty popular trick, all the way from Victoria Lake in Johannesburg, where Bernd Jülicher has done a bit of slick engineering at Ravens Boat Club to add a water bottle cage to his single.

Bernd, inspired by such Rowing Hack classics as the Water Bottle Holder Hack and the Zipped Bottle Holder, added an aluminum bracket to the end of the foot stretcher track to add a bit of hydration help to the cockpit of his ride.

The aluminum bracket gives Bernd an easy way to attach the bottle cage at a height where he can easily grab the water bottle between pieces...and the whole thing is, he assures us, adjustable if he wants to move his foot stretchers.

Bernd is actually making use here of some prime hacking "real estate"--foot stretcher channels offer great hard points for attaching all sorts of things, from speed coach brackets to coxbox speakers in bigger boats. We have even seen them used to affix weight at races where the "scales are open" and the boat weight rules are in effect.

All you really need to start putting those channels to work holding stuff is an extra foot stretcher bolt and (of course) a wing-nut, which will keep it all easily-adjustable in case you want to move your feet, or the shell is shared with other rowers.

Bottom-line, though: keep some water in your shell and stay hydrated out there. Whether you go all fancy like Bernd to attach your water bottle permanently, or just throw a sock on it, you are going to want to have your water with you when you row.

Do you have a water bottle hack that works for you, and might inspire some other scullers? If so, share your tips--and hacks--in the comments below.

If you have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion, send it to us like Bernd did here, and we will feature your idea in a future column.

Rowing Hack: The Single Sculler Elevator

Rowing Hack: Using row2k Pics to Coach Yourself

Rowing Hack Redux: The Erg Sanitizer Bottle Cage

Rowing Hacks: The PVC Back Stay Stower