Oar length

[Gunfleet]

If you had a little pram dinghy, 7'6" long, and you liked to row with your hands just above each other, what length oar would you buy? In other words, I know there is a formula, but I've forgotten it! Thanks
John

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[ccscott49]

As a guess I would say just long enough to fit inside the dinghy.

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[jleaworthy]

Traditionally oar length was taken as one and a half times the beam of the boat - and then adjusted for personal preference of course.

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[vyv_cox]

Last night I happened to see part of a fishing programme on Discovery. They were in a rowed Zodiac S134 on a river in Australia. The rowlocks were raised about 9 inches on posts, tied together with a yoke across the boat. Looked like the posts and yoke were welded up and strapped to the boat, making the whole arrangement rigid. This enabled the oars to be much longer than one would normally use in an inflatable of this size (I used to own one) The power and control given to the oarsman by this small modification was incredible.

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[ericw]

Hi John !

Here's the formula u are after (can't be bothered to get the calc. out though !)

It is : 1/2 x beam(at the oarlocks) +2" /7 x 25 (in inches).... lifted from an amateur boatbulding forum.

I'd make 'em marginally longer and then trim them to suit your rowing posture/position - some people like more/less of an overlap.

Good luck with making them !

Regards,

E.

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[Gunfleet]

Thanks for the replies one and all

Funnily enough, Colin's version comes out just a bit longer than Eric's. By the way Eric I was intending to buy them not make them - that blinking teak grating was quite enough DIY for me!

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