Cox Box
Coxes in either coxed pairs, fours, quads, eights, or octuples can use a cox box, most models of which show the rate in strokes per minute of the person sitting in the stroke seat (the seat at the rear of the boat, from whom the rate of strokes per minute and timing is taken).
Additional features include:
- a stopwatch started automatically at the first full stroke
- stroke ratings over time
- GPS speed measurement
- Ratio of the power phase to recovery (speed of oars through the water versus returning out of the water for the next stroke)
- 500 meter split times
- Stroke count
- Metronome for stroke rates
However the primary function of a cox box is to amplify the coxswain's voice, using a microphone connected to loudspeakers in the boat. This means that the cox needs only to speak for all rowers to hear their voice.
For an eight man crew three or four speakers are set down the length of the boat; for a four-man crew two speakers are used. Pairs may not have speakers if coxed from the stern but will have one if coxed from the bow (in front of the rowers).
Historically the cox would have carried (or strapped to his head) a conical, unpowered megaphone to amplify their voice. One design of cox box is made by Nielsen-Kellerman and others include Coxmate.
Read more about this topic: Coxswain (rowing)
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