The Whitemarsh Wake
Volume 7, Issue 2
Page 18
Summer, 2012
Rigging Tips:
Sculling Oarlock Heights
The oarlock height settings (the vertical distance between the oarlock sill and the
low point of the seat at the full catch position) is a boat rigging adjustment that
can (and should) be adjusted for different body types and individual preferences.
Although proper height adjustment is important in both sweep and sculling boats,
particular attention needs to be paid in the case of sculling boats. If it is set too
low, you may have trouble clearing the oar handle past your thighs and knees,
causing your blades to skim the
A water during the recovery phase of the stroke. If
it is set too high, you may “open up your back” during the drive phase of the
stroke, leading to less efficient rowing stroke (and possibly, back problems).
Most rigging technicians recommend a broad range of 14-17 cm on port, and 1518 cm on starboard, with a constant 1 cm difference between the two (starboard
higher than port) to allow for an effective “crossover” at the middle of both the
drive and recovery phases.
B
All WBC club sculling boats have been rigged (by the club members responsible
for boat rigging) so that their “base” (lowest) oarlock height settings are 15.5 cm
on port and 16.5 cm on starboard. This is accomplished by carefully setting the
white, fixed height washers (Figure 1A) in each oarlock. By moving the yellow,
adjustable, “snap-on” height washers (Figure 1B) on both sides, a rower can
individualize the settings to as high as ~ 17 cm on port and 18 cm on starboard.
However, while it may be obvious to some, how to actually make the adjustment
can be confusing to others.
Continued on the next page
Figure 1
A: Fixed height washer
B: Adjustable (snap-on) height washer
Photographs courtesy of Vespoli, Inc.
A
B
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The Whitemarsh Wake
Volume 7, Issue 2
Summer, 2012
Page 19
Rigging Tips:
Sculling Oarlock Heights (Continued)
The three Figures below (Figures 2-4) show the that the proper way to adjust the
oarlock heights is to transfer the adjustable (snap-on), yellow height washers
above or below the oarlock depending on whether you want to raise of lower it.
The most important thing to keep in mind, regardless of the height setting
you desire, is to make sure that the same number of yellow washers are
above (and the same number below) the oarlock on both the port and starboard sides. If you want the setting as low as possible, you will have all the yellow washers above the oarlockA (Figure 2); at the other extreme (highest position,
Figure 4), they will all be below the oarlock. In either of the two possible medium
positions, the same thing applies: An equal number above/below the oarlock on
both port and starboard (Figure 3).
Making sure to observe this rigging tip will go along way to producing a smooth,
technically sound sculling stroke and a better boat set for you and your crewmates.
B
Figure 2
PORT
STARBOARD
PORT
STARBOARD
PORT
STARBOARD
Lowest Position: All three yellow
washers are placed above the oarlock on each side, placing the oarlock at it lowest position.
Figure 3
Medium Position: Two yellow
washers have been moved from
above the oarlock to below it (same
on each side), raising the height.
Figure 4
Highest Position: All three yellow
washers are placed below the oarlock on each side, placing the oarlock at its highest position.
Photographs supplied by Whitemarsh Wake Editor Rick Schwarz
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The Whitemarsh Wake
Volume 7, Issue 2
Summer, 2012
Page 20
Rigging Tips:
Vespoli “Quick Release” Foot Stretcher Bolts
The foot stretchers in three WBC Vespoli sculling boats (The midweight Founding
Mothers quad, the midweight [teal color] double and the heavyweight [black color] double) are equipped with foot stretcher bolts that are an innovative improvement over the
older-style wing nuts. They offer two advantages:

In combination with the “saw tooth” foot stretcher channels, they secure the foot
stretcher and shoes more tightly and securely to the boat deck.

They are easier to adjust, andAdo not require a wrench, as do wing nuts when tightened too much. This allows for rapid, easy adjustment on the dock and on the water.
However, they must be used correctly, and cannot be tightened in a manner similar to
wing nuts. Follow the directions shown below. It is important to remember not to turn
the cam handle too tightly—-It should be turned (clockwise) just enough that it gently
drops into place in the foot stretcher track. Ask for a demonstration if you are unsure
how to adjust them.
B
Directions For Adjusting:
1. Flip the cam handle up, and
turn counterclockwise to
loosen.
2. Slide foot stretcher into the
desired position.
3. Turn upright cam handle
clockwise to tighten.
4. Flip the cam handle down,
using the (+) side of the cam
handle for more pressure,
and the (-) side for less), to
lock the foot stretcher into
position.
Photograph courtesy of Vespoli, Inc.
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