The preliminary heats were held on 20 October 1964; 15 crews entered and were split into two heats of 8 and 7 fours. The top three placers in each heat advanced to the semifinal, while the remaining eight crews (1 had withdrawn without starting in the heats) had to compete in repechage heats held the same day. There were two repechage heats and three crews to advance from each, resulting in two boats being eliminated in the repechages. Three semifinals, each with four crews, were held, with the top three in each heat to advance to the final and three more teams eliminated. The final was held on 22 October.