Rowing Mechanics & Terms

Basics of Rowing and

Equipment Terminology:

• Blades: The wide, flat section of the oar at the head of the shaft. The term also applies to an entire oar.

• Hatchets (a.k.a. big blades, choppers, or cleavers): A design of oar blades introduced by Concept II. These oar blades have a bigger surface area than the standard blade and are shaped like a hatchet or meat cleaver. Hatchets are shorter than standard blades.

• Scull: This term is used interchangeably to refer to one of the oars used in a sculling shell, the shell itself, or the act of rowing a sculling shell.

• Foot Stretcher: A bracket attached to the shell into which the rower’s feet are secured in some sort of shoe.

• Rigger (or outrigger): The device that connects the oarlock to the shell. It is bolted to the body of the shell.

• Oarlock (or rowlock): A V-shaped swivel that holds the oar in place. It is mounted at the end of the rigger and rotates around a metal pin. A gate closes across the top to keep the oar in place.

• Button (or collar): A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to keep it from slipping through the oarlock.

• Pitch: The angle between the blade (when squared) and a line perpendicular to the water’s surface.

• Slide (or track): The track on which the seat moves in the shell.

• Gunwale (or gunnels): The top section on the sides of a shell that runs along the area where the rowers are located. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.

• Keel: The structural member running the length of the boat at the bottom of the hull. Some shells are built without this member, so the term refers to the centerline of the shell.

• Rudder: The steering device at the stern. The rudder is connected to cables (tiller ropes) that the coxswain uses to steer the shell. Older shells have short wooden handles (knockers) on the tiller ropes, which the coxswain uses to steer and to rap out the cadence of the stroke rate on the gunwale.

• Skeg: A small fin located along the stern section of the shell that helps stabilize the shell and hold a true course when rowing. All racing shells have a skeg. It should not be confused with the rudder, which is used for steering.

• Rigging: The adjustment and alteration of accessories in and on the shell.

• Boat Slings: Collapsible frames with straps used to temporarily hold a shell.

Directional Terms:

• Bow: The forward end of the shell. Also, the name of the rower sitting most forward in the shell.

• Stern: The rear end of the shell.

• Port: The left side of the boat when facing the bow.

• Starboard: The right side of the shell when facing the bow.

• Coxswain: The person who steers the shell and urges the rowers on—a key position on the team.

• The Stroke: The rower sitting nearest the coxswain. The stroke, along with the coxswain, sets both the cadence and stroke length.

Shells and Team Classifications:

Rowing consists of two forms: sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing, each rower uses a single oar. In sculling, a rower uses two oars. The term shell is used because the hull is only about 1/8” to 1/4” thick. These shells are long, and racing shells are as narrow as possible, while recreational shells can be wider.

Each rower has their back to the direction the shell is moving. Power is generated using a blended sequence of the rower’s legs, back, and arms. The rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track.

Sweep Boats (each rower has one oar—alternating sides):

• Coxed Pair (2+): Two sweep rowers with a coxswain.

• Coxless Pair (2-): Two sweep rowers without a coxswain.

• Coxed Four (4+): Four sweep rowers with a coxswain.

• Straight (or Coxless) Four (4-): Four sweep rowers without a coxswain. Steering is usually done via a rudder attached to a cable connected to one of the rower’s foot stretchers. The coxless pair has a similar rudder setup.

• Eight (8+): Eight sweep rowers with a coxswain.

Sculling Boats (each rower has two oars; rarely have a coxswain):

• Single (1X): One rower (sculler).

• Double (2X): Two rowers (scullers).

• Quadruple (4X): Four rowers (scullers). Often referred to as a quad.

• Octuple (8X): Eight rowers (scullers). Rarely seen in the U.S. but used in the UK and some U.S. clubs (including SRC) for junior rowers.

Team Classifications:

• Men (M): Heavyweight division has no maximum individual weight. The lightweight division has a maximum individual weight of 155 lbs.

• Women (W): Heavyweight division has no maximum individual weight. The lightweight division has a maximum individual weight of 130 lbs.

Rowing Terminology:

• Catch: When the blade enters the water at the end of the recovery, achieved by an upward motion of the arms. The blade must be fully squared at the catch.

• Drive: The part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power to the oar, using a blended sequence of leg drive, back, and arms.

• Release: A sharp downward and away motion of the hand, which removes the oar blade from the water and starts the rowing cycle.

• Feathering: Turning the oar blade from a perpendicular position to parallel with the water. Done in conjunction with the release.

• Squaring: Rolling the oar blade from a parallel position to perpendicular, done during the recovery in preparation for the catch.

• Finish: The last part of the drive before the release. Most power comes from the back and arms.

• Layback: The backward lean of the rower’s body at the end of the finish.

• Ratio: The ratio of recovery time to drive time. Recovery time should always exceed drive time.

• Rating: The number of strokes per minute (a.k.a. stroke rating).

Common Rowing Errors:

• Crab: When a rower’s oar gets stuck in the water, usually right after the catch or just before the release.

• Jumping the Slide: When the rower’s seat derails from the track during the rowing cycle.

• Skying: Carrying the hands too low during recovery, causing the blade to be too high off the water.

• Washing Out: Rowing the oar out of the water too soon, before the drive is finished.

Rowing Techniques:

Rowing is a power-endurance sport requiring skill, technique, and balance among three key factors:

1. Power – How fast the boat travels with each stroke.

2. Length – How far the boat travels per stroke.

3. Rate – How many strokes per minute.

The optimal balance of power, length, and rate is essential for success in a race.