By West Marine Staff, Last updated: 9/15/2021
If your oars are too long or hard to pull, they may not clear the water on the backstroke. Oars that are too short won’t dig into the water or allow the rower adequate leverage. Narrow-beam boats and low-freeboard boats require shorter oars.
Basic Rule for Sizing:
1/2 beam (distance between oarlocks) x 3 + 6" = oar length
| Beam At Oarlocks | Recommended Oar Length |
|---|---|
| 3'4" | 5'6" |
| 3'8" | 6' |
| 4' | 6'6 |
| 4'4" | 7' |
| 4'8" | 7'6" |
| 5' | 8' |
Low freeboard boats may use shorter oars.