Adirondack Guide Boat Oars

How to Size Your Oars

To find the correct oar length for your boat, start by measuring the span, the distance between the port and starboard oar sockets. Then use the Shaw & Tenney formula below to calculate the oar length that gives you the ideal 7:18 leverage ratio (7/25 of the oar inboard of the oarlocks, 18/25 outboard). This ratio works well for rowing almost any boat.

When your oars are sized correctly:

• Your hands will be 1–3 inches apart at the finish of each stroke
• You'll be pulling directly toward your abdomen

Signs your oars are too short: If you keep popping out of the oarlocks while rowing, your oars are too short.

Overlapping grip: If you prefer this style, add 6" to your calculated oar length. Overlapping allows you to row with a longer oar, increasing the outboard portion, givng you more power and speed. The draw backs are less control, heavier oars, and more hand-eye coordination is needed.

Multiple rowing stations: If your boat has more than one rowing station, measure each one separately. They'll usually call for different oar lengths.

• If you'll row tandem, it's fine to have two sets of oars sized for each station.
• Otherwise, you'll need to pick a single compromise length.
• If you row in one station more than 75% of the time, size your oars for that station.

Not sure what you need? Email us, we're happy to help you choose the right oar length and blade style for your boat.

The Original Shaw & Tenney Oar Length Formula

We've used this same formula to size oars correctly since 1858:

1. Measure the span: the distance between the center of the port and starboard oar sockets.
2. Divide the span by 2, then add 2. This gives you the inboard loom length.
3. Multiply the inboard loom length by 25, then divide by 7. This gives you the oar length in inches.
4. Round to the nearest 6" increment. Round up for more power round down for more control.

Oar Size Chart

For traditional wooden paddles the ideal length for the stern paddler is up to the bridge of your nose, or six inches less than your height. For the bow paddler, we recommend that the paddle reach the cleft of your chin, or nine inches less than your height.

For our Racine paddle if you are over 5’6” tall select the 63-1/2” length and the shorter paddle if you are under 5’-6”tall.

When paddling solo we typically recommend a bow length paddle. For Canadian style solo most paddlers prefer an even shorter paddle.

For paddling canoes when standing, a 69 inch or 72 inch paddle is usually about right.