The boats (or shells) are basically of two types and reflect the two forms of rowing—sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing each rower handles a single oar (about 12.5 ft or 3.9 m long) in sculling a rower uses two oars (each about 9.5 ft or 3 m long).
The word shell is often used in reference to the boats used because the hull is only about 1/8 to 1/4 ” thick to make it light as possible.
These shells are also rather long and as narrow as possible. Each rower has his back to the direction the shell is moving and 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 called the slide. Each oar is held in a U-shaped swivel (oarlock) mounted on a metal pin at the end of a rigger. The rigger is an assembly of tubes that is tightly bolted to the body of the shell. The subtypes of rowing shells are classified according to the number of rowers in the shell.
Sweep Boats (each rower has one oar): These shells can have a
Coxswain—a person who steers the shell (using a rudder) and
Urges the rower on. I have included in parenthesis the symbol used
For each subtype along with some dimensions and weights.
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 Four (4-) – Four sweep rowers without a coxswain.
Or Coxless Four Steering is usually accomplished via a rudder
that is attached to a cable that is connected
to one of the rower’s foot stretchers (this
an adjustable bracket to which the rower’s
feet are secured). The coxless pair has a
similar type of rudder setup.
Eight (8+) – Eight sweep rowers with a coxswain. Eights
are 60+ ft (~18.5 m) long and weigh about 250 pounds
(~114 kg).
Sculling Boats (each rower has two oars) : These shells almost never have
a coxswain. Steering is generally accomplished by applying more
power or pressure to the oar(s) on one side of the shell. The
hands overlap (usually left over right in the U.S.) during part of
the rowing cycle.
Single (1X) – One rower or sculler. Singles are about 26 ft
(8 m) long and less than a foot (0.3 m) wide. Racing
singles can weigh as little as 30 pounds (~13.5 kg).
There are heavier (~45 to 50 pounds), shorter and wider
versions often referred to as recreational singles.
Double (2X) – Two scullers. Most racing doubles can be also
used as a pair with a different set of riggers
designed for sweep oars. When used as a pair a
rudder is usually added. There are also recreational
versions of sculling doubles.
Quadruple (4X) – Four scullers. Often referred to as a “quad” and
usually has a rudder attached to one of the sculler’s
foot stretchers as in the straight four. Most quads
can also be rigged as a straight four using a different
set of riggers.
Weight Classifications: There are basically two weight classes
for rowers—heavyweight (HWT) and lightweight (LWT).
Men (M): for team LWT boats, there is a 72.5 kg (~160 lbs)
individual maximum, and the boat must average no more than 70 kg
(~155 lbs).
Women (W): the individual maximum for team LWT boats is 59 kg
(~130 lbs), and the the boat must average no more than 57 kg
(~125 lbs).
In Srilanka we don’t row Eight (8+) and Quadruple (4X) in general. To row an Eight we got to have ample space and also large boat houses to store which we don’t get in SL. Except for the eight we have other races in our national championships. Weight classifications are always done prior to the national regatta where as in other monthly regatta’s it is not done so. Blades vary from country to country where rowing champions and giants use latest racing class boats and blades. Rowing is all about timing and boats and oars make a huge difference in rowing when it comes to timing.
