Sculls: Length & Rigging
We know from riding a bike that things go better if we are in the right gear. Small changes can make a big difference, so with any changes we recommend making minor adjustments and then testing before proceeding.
The overall length and inboard, along with other variables—spread, blade type, catch angle, seat and footstop height—determine the boat gearing or rigging. Some of the basic rigging concepts, including inboard and length are outlined below.
What's On This Page
Overall Length
- The overall length of the oar is measured from the end of the grip down the centerline of the shaft to the edge of the blade
- Why is it important?
- For a given rig, a longer oar gives a higher gear or heavier load than a shorter oar. To lower the gear or make the load lighter, you can:
- Shorten the overall length while keeping the inboard constant by moving the collar towards blade.
- Increase the inboard while keeping the overall length constant by moving the collar towards blade.
- Widen the boat’s span.
- For a given rig, a longer oar gives a higher gear or heavier load than a shorter oar. To lower the gear or make the load lighter, you can:
- We recommend setting your oars shorter when rowing:
- With more efficient blades, like the Fat2.
- In a slower boat.
- With a narrower span.
- With a longer reach or greater catch angle.
- When you need less handle overlap.
Recommended Adjustable Lengths
| Range | Comp, Smoothie2 | Fat2 |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 281–286 cm | 275–280 cm |
| Medium | 284–289 cm | 278–283 cm |
| Long | 287–292 cm | 280–285 cm |
Inboard
Inboard is the measurement from the end of the grip to the blade side of the collar.
- The inboard is adjusted by moving the collar along the sleeve.
- The inboard ranges below will accommodate most common rigger spreads (83-87 cm):
- Adjustable handle 79-91 cm.
- Fixed handle 84-96 cm.
How to Determine Inboard, Span and Overlap
Inboard: To determine the appropriate inboard setting, a standard starting point is to first measure the span of the boat, which is the measurement from rigger pin to rigger pin, straight across the beam of the boat.
Span: The span is the measurement from rigger pin to rigger pin across the beam of the scull. Common span ranges from 157 to 161 cm.
Overlap: The amount by which the hands cross each other at the midpoint of the stroke. Overlap is a matter of personal preference, but is generally recommended to keep it between 12 and 20 cm. Increasing the inboard will increase the overlap, unless you increase the spread accordingly at the same time.
Pitch
Blade pitch is the angle of the blade away from vertical during the drive. Too much pitch makes it difficult to bury the blade; too little makes it easy to pull too deeply through the water.
- Recommended blade pitch is 0 degrees. Pitch can then be adjusted in the oarlock.
- When using Concept2 oarlocks, the pitch can be set from 1–7 degrees using replaceable Concept2 bushings.
