Rowing rigging

Oar stiffness

Concept: The degree of flexibility of an oar, measured in millimeters at the attachment point of the blade. This test is mainly done to see if two or more oars fit together. When the Oar stiffness, the Oar balance point, the Oar length and Oar weight are nearly equal, the oars match.
Sizes: Measured in millimeters.
Effect:
+ the stiffer the oar, the more directly the movements of the handle are transmitted to the blade
the slacker the oar, the less direct the movements of the handle are transmitted to the blade
Measure: Use a tape measure in mm. Choose 65cm for the inboard distance and press the oar down on this point. Hang a weight of 10 kilos at the specified distance (150cm sculling, 205cm sweep rowing). Measure the oar  displacement at the attachment point of the blade and determine the unloaded and loaded position. The difference between both positions is the oar stiffness: more millimeters means a slacker oar.
Adjust: Is not adapted.


Measuring the stiffness of the oar 


Oar balance point

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