Welcome to the Concept2 Community

Checking and Setting Oar Length

Oar length, along with other variables like spread, blade size, blade type, inboard, catch angle, and so on, determine the boat gearing, also known as rig or rigging. For a given rig, a longer oar gives a higher gear (heavier load) than a shorter oar.

Achieving a comfortable, effective rig is the key to keeping the load reasonable.

Setting Inboard

The inboard is determined by where you set the collar on the sleeve. Here are some basic recommendations for both sculls and sweep oars.

Scull - Measure the spread of your boat (the distance between the pins that hold the oarlocks). Take half of this dimension and add 6–8 cm. This will give you a reasonable inboard dimension. Measure this distance from the end of the handle and position the collars at that point.

Sweep - A sweep boat's spread is the horizontal distance from the center of the boat to the center of the pin that holds the oarlock. To this dimension, add 29–31 centimeters to come up with a reasonable inboard dimension. Measure this distance from the end of the handle and position the collars at that point.

Meet the Concept2 Team

Concept2 travels to several regattas each year to provide repairs and maintenance for oars and sculls. This service is provided free for all customers of Concept2 products for the lifetime of your oars. We’re happy to help! Our Regatta Service is one way we help support our customers long after the sale.

How Your Oars Were Made and Tested

What began in 1976 is still true today: we custom build every oar to your specifications, and every oar undergoes rigorous quality testing before it ships. When we develop an innovation, we test it for performance improvements; we do this in the shop and—the truest test—by taking it out on the water. If an innovation does not show that it will help make you faster, we don’t release it.