However, size is not everything, especially if the individual doesn't have other prerequisites - timing, form, power and condition. Rowing shells are .280 meters to .590 meters wide and 8.280 meters to 17.600 meters long. A small fin is fitted at the bottom for stability. A washboard prevents waves splashing aboard. Seats are fitted with wheels which slide on runners, or tracks.
Oars are hollow to reduce weight, attached to the boat by adjustable out riggers.
Size and shape of the oars is unrestricted, the average length of a sweep oar being 3.81 meters and of a scull being 2.98 meters. There are six Olympic types of boats, of which three are for sweep-oared rowing in which the rower uses one oar with both hands and three are for sculling in which two oars are used, one in each hand. The sculling boats are single scull, double scull, and quadruple scull, the sweep oared events are straight pair, straight four and eight. In the eight there is a coxswain who sits in the stern or lies in the bow of the boat.