Eachann has been rowing for four years and Elliott for one.
Both are achieving well, with Eachann selected for the Otago under-20 provincial team last August and Elliott in the second-placed Otago novice eight at the nationals at Twizel this year.
The pair were on duty at the club's open day at Stoney Creek on Saturday to explain the proposed clubhouse to the public.
One of the most important things was to be close to the water, the boys said.
They had been to other rowing venues and had noticed Wanaka club members had the longest walk to water.
"A clubhouse will give us better facilities and more chance to excel in rowing.
"We won't have to carry our boats 500m across the road and dodge cars every day. And you can't see most bikers in the morning. They don't wear lights on their bikes and we've had a couple of close incidents," Eachann said.
"[Carrying boats long distances] is not a warm-up. It just gets you sore and then it's hard to row when you get out on the lake," Elliott said.
Both athletes are year 12 pupils at Mount Aspiring College and keen to continue the sport when they go to university in 2013.
But, for now, their goals are to train as hard as they can and win medals at the Maadi Cup in March next year.
Both said they would like to come back to Wanaka to celebrate the new clubhouse once it is built.
They took heart from seeing at least 50 people attend the open day.
"I haven't seen anyone here strongly against it today," Eachann said.
"They've been supportive. Even close neighbours at Meadowstone have been supportive."
The clubhouse proposal is being opposed by lakeside reserve neighbours Lyall and Gaynor Shearer, of Timaru, on the grounds the building would interrupt views and disturb the peace and serenity of the surroundings.
They and other nearby neighbours are campaigning against the Stoney Creek site, have made a submission to the Wanaka Community Board and have distributed pamphlets.
The Stoney Creek site is one of eight explored by the club.
An alternative site has also been pegged out about 100m further down the Millennium Track in front of Wanaka Station Park.
Public feedback and submissions can be forwarded to the Wanaka office of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
A proposal to lease the lakeside reserve needs the approval of the Wanaka Community Board and council.
The matter will be considered by the board again at a meeting next month.
