Types Of Oars

The history of oars as a means for boat transportation dates back to ancient times Oars are long paddle-like objects used to manually propel boats without sails or motor propellers. One end of an oar has a blade, which pushes through water, while the other end features a 7 to 8 inch grip for handling. Oars attach to the boat via an oarlock, or a round loop on the side of the boat.

  1. Wooden

    • Wooden oars are typically made with hardwoods like oak and ash, as well as spruce. Hardwood oars are heavier than other types of oars and are preferable for drift boating and commercial vessels. Spruce is not as heavy as oak and ash, but still heavier than non-wooden oars. They are meant for leisure and exercise. Most wooden oars are 6 to 8 feet long. Two types of grips are available, tapered and barreled.

    Plastic

    • Plastic oars are much lighter than their wooden counterparts. They are usually made with aluminum shafts and covered with polythylene plastic. Most plastic oars have removable blades attached to one end, which allows for the use of different sized blades. Most blades are 10 to 12 inches long. These oars are durable and will bend if they crash into rocks or hard surfaces. If plastic oars become damaged, replacement parts are less expensive than wooden oars.

    Sculls

    • Also known as a racing oar, sculls are designed to move boats at quick speeds. They are primarily used at competitive rowing events in flatwater rivers and most often manufactured with wood, graphite or carbon fiber. Their blade design differs from wooden or plastic oars. Most sculling races require the use of two sculls. They are also used for single-oar sculling which requires rowers to propel themselves moving the scull side to side. Rowers must change the angle of the scull's blade each time before they row.

    Oar History

    • The history of oars dates back over 3,000 years when the ancient Phoenicians, Romans and Greeks used oars to propel their boats. Large groups of rowers would sit in the bottom levels of the ships and simultaneously row for propulsion. One of the oldest sculling events in modern history is Doggett's Coat and Badge, a race dating back to 1715. This sculling event occurs on the South Bank of London; racers used sculls to row on the River Thames between London Bridge and Chelsea.