Six absorbs most of seven's bitching and keeps it from moving through to the rest of the crew. Six nods and agrees a lot. It is a hard thing for a normal person to row six. It seems like such a great seat, you're in the stern, the boats more stable here, but you are done with a rowing career at six, you find you've been used. Sixes are characterized by great competence in execution of rowing and life, but poor self confidence and a propensity to self-flagellation.
Sixes marry, go to work for, and lend their power tools to sevens.
This support system keeps sevens with thriving businesses, mates they can walk all over, and a garage full of power tools at their disposal that they don't have to fix when they break. Five's stool don't stink, the catches don't hang. They're the older brother or sister that gets special treatment, and has no idea. If a photo is taken of the crew, five will look great, everyone else is caught with shirtaills out, and snot on the lip. Five is an example of what happens to a bum that is treated like a king, they act like one.