page_title: Oar
section_title: Oars used for competitive rowing
hierarchical_section_title: Oar / Oars used for competitive rowing
caption_attribution_description: English: Trophy oars of the seven founding member clubs of the Remenham Club, in the 1847-1960 conventional 'square' style, which is a misnomer as with nearly long triangular spoons but which relates to their flatness.
context_page_description: An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Rowers grasp the oar at the other end.
  The difference between oars and paddles is that oars are used exclusively for rowing. In rowing the oar is connected to the vessel by means of a pivot point for the oar, either an oarlock, or a thole. The oar is placed in the pivot point with a short portion inside the vessel, and a much larger portion outside. The rower pulls on the short end of oar, while the long end is in the water. The oar is a second class lever with the water as the fulcrum, the oarlock as the load, and the rower as the force. An oar is an unusual lever since the mechanical advantage is less than one. The oar increases the small displacement of the end held by the rower, into a large displacement of the vessel through the water. The rower applies a large force through a small distance, which must be equaled by the small force the water applies operating over a longer distance, i.e. the work done by the rower must be balanced by the work done by the water.
  By contrast, paddles, are held in both hands by the paddler, and are not attached to the vessel.
context_section_description: The oars used in competitive rowing are long (250–300 cm) poles with one flat end about 50 cm long and 25 cm wide, called the blade. The part of the oar the oarsman holds while rowing is called the handle. While rowing, the oars are supported by metal frames attached to the side of the boat called riggers, while the oar fits into the oarlocks at the ends of each rigger. Classic oars were made  of wood, but modern oars are made from synthetic material, the most common being carbon fibre.
caption: Trophy oars of the seven founding member clubs of the Remenham Club
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