surf boat

Round-bottomed rowboat designed for use in the waves, usually crewed by four rear-facing rowers and an aft-positioned "sweep steer."

The surf boat, descended from the rugged wooden dory boats long used by fishermen and whalers, was adapted for rescue purposes by the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia (SLSA) in the late 1800s, and is now used only for lifeguard training and competition. The average surf boat today is 22 feet long, four to five feet wide, made primarily of foam and mold...