PARA Rigging Guide

The following is our guide to choosing scull oars and deciding rigging for PARA rowers, and will be suitable for most PARA rowers.

Rowers with a very short range of movement, such as Arms & Shoulders rowers, should have narrow rigger spans, to help achieve a longer rowing stroke/arc. Range of movement is also determined by height, arm length and flexibility.

Most PARA rowers have little or no overlap (of handles). The Outboard measurement, which is simply the total oar length minus inboard, when divided by inboard determines the level of gearing/loading (that is, how heavy the stroke is/feels).

For example, if span is 140cm, inboard will be around 70cm.
With oars that are 260cm long, outboard = 190cm, so gearing = 190/70 = 2.7
With oars that are 245cm long, outboard = 175cm, so gearing = 175/70 = 2.5

Stronger and more experienced rowers can have higher gearing and beginners and weaker rowers need lower gearing to maximize performance and reduce injury.