Parts & Accessories/Oars
SWIFT
OARS
Three oar lines, three grades, two blade profiles. Built with the same construction discipline as our shells, and detailed in the new Swift Oars Catalogue.
Download the Oars Catalogue (PDF)3 grades. 3 grip sizes.
2 blade choices.
Swift's scull oars are offered in 3 "grades", various lengths, 3 grip sizes, 2 blade choices: all with adjustable handles.
Blades: moulded in-house
All blades are made in house from our own 2-part moulds, designed to be highly resistant to impact damage and water infiltration, through having a strong joint running along the entire edge. They are capped with either a Vortex or Plain "edge", made from nylon, designed to fit snugly on the tip of our blades, to reduce damage through wear and tear to the blade tip.
Sleeve & collar: 15 cm of fast adjustment
The sleeve and collar are made to the design most popular today, allowing for 15 cm of fast but secure adjustment of collar position.
Handle: CNC-cut, length-engraved
The external diameter of the handle is cut by CNC machine to fit perfectly inside the shaft, where it is securely held. Simply loosening 2 screws allows for quick and easy length adjustment. All handles have overall length engraved, so avoiding the need to measure length each time they are adjusted.
QC: every oar checked & paired
Every oar is checked for weight, stiffness, balance, pitch, and finish quality and paired with an oar with the same specifications. All data is recorded for every oar. Oar covers are available and can be ordered from our website or by contacting us directly.
Standard or short.
HP, CP or Rec.
Regular scull oars use our standard shafts, made in 2 lengths, short and standard. With durable construction, competitive pricing, choice of grades, lengths and blades, Swift's scull oars are an ideal choice for all club, school, university and master rowers.
Handles & Grips
We offer 2 grip sizes on 2 sizes of handle. The handles are fibreglass. The external diameter of the handle is cut by CNC machine to fit perfectly inside the shaft, where it is securely held. We can supply oars with the grips attached or without. All shafts have reinforcing with extra carbon on the final 18 cm of the shaft, near the handle.
| Handle Size | Small | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Color Code | Red | Orange |
| Grip Diameter | 32 mm | 35 mm |
Length Adjustment
Simply loosening 2 screws allows for quick and easy length adjustment of up to 6 cm. All handles have overall length engraved, so avoiding the need to measure length each time they are adjusted.
Grades of Shaft Construction
The 3 grades of regular scull oars are High Performance (HP), Club Performance (CP), and Recreational (Rec). These 3 grades cover the range from minimum weight and high stiffness to slightly heavier with increased flexibility. When considering which grade is most suitable, the key factors should be boat speed and muscle development.
| Regular Scull Oars | High Performance (HP) | Club Performance (CP) | Recreational (Rec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade sticker | Yellow | Red | Green |
| Blade material | Carbon, PVC | Carbon, PVC | Carbon & FG, PVC |
| Blade finish | Clear carbon gel coat | White gel coat | Light grey paint |
| Total weight: kg (per piece) | 1.41 ± 0.03 | 1.48 ± 0.03 | 1.55 ± 0.03 |
| Maximum variation per pair: kg | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Shaft material | Carbon 95% | Carbon 70% | Carbon 40% |
| Shaft stiffness: mm (medium) | 42 ± 2 | 48 ± 2 | 58 ± 3 |
| Maximum variation per pair: mm | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Balance point: cm (from handle) | 139 ± 2 | 140 ± 2 | 141 ± 2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: cm | 1 | 1 | 1 |
- Balance point and weight are calculated with A2 blades. A3 may be slightly different.
- "Maximum variation" means between the strokeside (port) and bowside (starboard) oars in 1 pair.
- Our oars have the balance point at about 140 cm from handle, compared to 145–148 cm for CII & Braca.
- This gives more upward force in the hand, so will feel a little different.
Comparison with Other Brands
| Units: cm & kg | Stiffness | Weight per oar | Balance point | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stiff | Medium | Soft | Extra soft | |||
| Swift: High Performance (HP) | 4.2 | - | - | - | 1.41 | 139 |
| Swift: Club Performance (CP) | - | 4.8 | - | - | 1.48 | 140 |
| Swift: Recreational (Rec) | - | - | 5.8 | - | 1.55 | 141 |
| CII Ultralight | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | - | 1.4 | 148 |
| CII Skinny | - | 4.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | ? | - |
| Braca Ultralight | 3.3–4.0 | - | - | - | 1.4–1.55 | 145 |
| Braca UL Gold | 3.6–3.9 | - | - | - | 1.4–1.55 | - |
| Braca Standard | - | 4.6–4.9 | - | - | 1.6–1.8 | - |
| Braca Recreational | - | 6.6–7.0 | - | - | 1.9–2.0 | - |
| Croker S4 | - | - | - | - | 1.35–1.4 | 148 |
| Croker S2 | - | - | - | - | 1.41–1.45 | 148 |
| Croker S3 | - | - | - | - | 1.55 | - |
| Croker S5 | - | - | - | - | 1.8 | - |
| Croker S6 | - | - | - | - | 1.8 | - |
Lengths
There are 2 lengths of regular scull oar, Standard and Short.
| A2 Blade | A3 Blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: Length (cm) | 286–292 | 291–297 |
| Standard: Outboard (cm) | 190–205 | 195–210 |
| Short: Length (cm) | 283–289 | 288–293 |
| Short: Outboard (cm) | 188.5–203.5 | 193.5–208.5 |
| Length Adjustment (cm) | 6 | 6 |
* Outboard = Oar Length − Inboard.
95% Carbon
The HP oar shafts are 95% carbon and the same weight and stiffness as racing scull oars from the leading manufacturers.
- Blades
- Carbon, PVC foam core, clear carbon gel coat finish
- Weight
- 1.41 ± 0.03 kg (max variation per pair: 20 g)
- Stiffness
- 42 ± 2 mm (max variation per pair: 2 mm)
70% Carbon
The CP shafts are 70% carbon, have about 10% more flex than HP, and are just 70 g heavier per oar. Ideal for "slower boats": all 1x, 2-, beginners, juniors, women, masters and many lightweight crews. No loss of boat speed: but less stress is put on the back at the catch.
- Blades
- Carbon, PVC foam core, white gel coat finish
- Weight
- 1.48 ± 0.03 kg (max variation per pair: 20 g)
- Stiffness
- 48 ± 2 mm (max variation per pair: 2 mm)
40% Carbon
The Rec shafts are 40% carbon, have about 20% more flex than CP, and are just 70 g heavier. Ideal for young beginners and casual / recreational rowers.
- Blades
- Carbon & fibreglass, PVC foam core, light grey polyurethane paint finish
- Weight
- 1.55 ± 0.03 kg (max variation per pair: 30 g)
- Stiffness
- 58 ± 3 mm (max variation per pair: 2 mm)
Blades & Edges
All grades are available with either the A2 or A3 (Macon) blade. A2 will have plastic edges (Vortex or Plain), and A3 (Macon) will have Plain. There is no option to have blades without edges.
| A2 Blade | A3 Blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Edge | Vortex or Plain | Plain |
| Size: L × W (cm) | 46 × 21.5 | 51 × 17 |
| Area (cm²) | 785 | 695 |
Blade length is along the axis of the shaft; width is maximum width.
Quality Control
Every oar is checked for weight, stiffness, balance, pitch, and finish quality and paired with an oar with the same specifications (within an agreed margin of tolerance, shown above). Each pair of oars will have the same serial number, with B for bowside (starboard) and S for strokeside (port). All data is recorded.
Oar Covers
We make oar covers in 2 sizes. Oar covers are available and can be ordered from our website or by contacting us directly.
Stiffness Measurement
Stiffness of regular oars is measured as shown in the diagram below. F is 150 cm for scull, 205 cm for sweep. G is 65 cm for both. A 10 kg weight is hung at the blade end; H is the resulting deflection.
Shorter shafts.
Three lengths.
Swift produces oars for use with our Cadet and Cadet Mini boats or by Adaptive / PARA rowers. These are manufactured with purpose-built tooling, so are correctly sized, not just "cut down" versions of normal scull oars. Adaptive scull oars use our shorter shafts, made in 3 lengths, short, medium and long.
Handles & Grips
We offer 3 grip sizes on 2 sizes of handle. The external diameter of the handle is cut by CNC machine to fit perfectly inside the shaft, where it is securely held.
| Handle Size | Small | Medium | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color Code | Red | Orange | Purple |
| Grip Diameter | 32 mm | 35 mm | 37 mm |
Length Adjustment
Simply loosening 2 screws allows for quick and easy length adjustment of up to 12 cm. All handles have overall length engraved, so avoiding the need to measure length each time they are adjusted.
Grades of Shaft Construction
Please note that even with an extra 6 cm handle adjustment range, because of reduced overall length, oars become light and very stiff. We therefore do not offer HP grade. There are 2 grades of Adaptive Scull Oars, Club Performance (CP) and Recreational (Rec).
70% Carbon
As with the regular-length oars, the CP shafts are 70% carbon. Blades are made from carbon with PVC foam core and white gel coat finish. Weight and stiffness vary with length, see chart below.
- Grade sticker
- Red
40% Carbon
As with the regular-length oars, the Rec shafts are 40% carbon. Blades are made from carbon & fibreglass with PVC foam core and light grey polyurethane paint finish. Weight and stiffness vary with length, see chart below.
- Grade sticker
- Green
| Adaptive Scull Oars | Club Performance (CP) | Recreational (Rec) |
|---|---|---|
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Long | 1.42 ± 0.2 | 1.47 ± 0.2 |
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Medium | 1.36 ± 0.2 | 1.41 ± 0.2 |
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Short | 1.34 ± 0.2 | 1.39 ± 0.2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: kg | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Long | 35 | 40 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Medium | 28 | 34 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Short | 24 | 28 |
| Maximum variation per pair: mm | 2 | 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Long | 132 ± 2 | 132 ± 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Medium | 130 ± 2 | 130 ± 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Short | 121 ± 2 | 121 ± 2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: cm | 1.0 | 1.0 |
- Balance point and weight are calculated with A2 blades. A3 may be slightly different.
- "Maximum variation" means between the strokeside (port) and bowside (starboard) oars in 1 pair.
- Stiffness is measured the same way as for regular oars, with shorter lengths for F and G but the same ratio. F = 136 cm (long), F = 127 cm (medium), F = 118 cm (short). G = 65 cm.
- "Variation" means between the 2 oars in 1 pair. Material content is based on medium-length oars.
Adaptive Oars: PARA Rigging
There are 3 lengths of Adaptive scull oars:
| A2 | |
|---|---|
| Long: Length (cm) | 268–280 |
| Long Adaptive: Outboard (cm) | 193–208 |
| Medium: Length (cm) | 256–268 |
| Medium Adaptive: Outboard (cm) | 190–205 |
| Short: Length (cm) | 244–256 |
| Short Adaptive: Outboard (cm) | 181–196 |
| Length Adjustment (cm) | 12 |
* These oars are not available with the A3 blade.
* Oar covers are available and can be ordered from our website or by contacting us directly.
Built for Cadet
and Cadet Mini.
Swift produces oars for use with our Cadet and Cadet Mini boats, with shorter shafts in 3 lengths, short, medium and long. These are manufactured with purpose-built tooling, so are correctly sized, not just "cut down" versions of normal scull oars. The external diameter of the handle is cut by CNC machine to fit perfectly inside the shaft, where it is securely held.
With our durable construction, competitive pricing, choice of grades, lengths and blades, Swift's scull oars are an ideal choice for all clubs and schools.
Handles & Grips
We offer 3 grip sizes on 2 sizes of handle.
| Handle Size | Small | Medium | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color Code | Red | Orange | Purple |
| Grip Diameter | 32 mm | 35 mm | 37 mm |
Length Adjustment
Simply loosening 2 screws allows for quick and easy length adjustment of up to 12 cm. All handles have overall length engraved, so avoiding the need to measure length each time they are adjusted.
Grades of Shaft Construction
Please note that even with an extra 6 cm handle adjustment range, because of reduced overall length, oars become light and very stiff. We therefore do not offer HP grade. There are 2 grades of Cadet Scull Oars, Club Performance (CP) and Recreational (Rec).
70% Carbon
As with the regular-length oars, the CP shafts are 70% carbon. Blades are made from carbon with PVC foam core and white gel coat finish. Weight and stiffness vary with length, see chart below.
- Grade sticker
- Red
40% Carbon
As with the regular-length oars, the Rec shafts are 40% carbon. Blades are made from carbon & fibreglass with PVC foam core and light grey polyurethane paint finish. Weight and stiffness vary with length, see chart below.
- Grade sticker
- Green
| Cadet Scull Oars | Club Performance (CP) | Recreational (Rec) |
|---|---|---|
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Long | 1.42 ± 0.2 | 1.47 ± 0.2 |
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Medium | 1.36 ± 0.2 | 1.41 ± 0.2 |
| Total weight, kg (per piece), Short | 1.34 ± 0.2 | 1.39 ± 0.2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: kg | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Long | 35 | 40 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Medium | 28 | 34 |
| Shaft stiffness, mm, Short | 24 | 28 |
| Maximum variation per pair: mm | 2 | 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Long | 132 ± 2 | 132 ± 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Medium | 130 ± 2 | 130 ± 2 |
| Balance point, cm (from handle), Short | 121 ± 2 | 121 ± 2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: cm | 1.0 | 1.0 |
- Balance point and weight are calculated with A2 blades. A3 may be slightly different.
- "Maximum variation" means between the strokeside (port) and bowside (starboard) oars in 1 pair.
- Stiffness is measured the same way as for regular oars, with shorter lengths for F and G but the same ratio. F = 136 cm (long), F = 127 cm (medium), F = 118 cm (short). G = 65 cm.
- "Variation" means between the 2 oars in 1 pair. Material content is based on medium-length oars.
- Stiffness is measured the same way as for regular oars, with the weight suspended from the connection point of shaft and blade.
Lengths
There are 3 lengths of Cadet Scull Oars, available in both A2 and A3 blades.
| A2 Blade | A3 Blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Long: Length (cm) | 268–280 | 273–285 |
| Long Cadet: Outboard (cm) | 184–199 | 189–204 |
| Medium: Length (cm) | 256–268 | 261–273 |
| Medium Cadet: Outboard (cm) | 176–191 | 181–196 |
| Short: Length (cm) | 244–256 | 249–261 |
| Short Cadet: Outboard (cm) | 166–181 | 171–186 |
| Length Adjustment (cm) | 12 | 12 |
* For the Kiddy 1x, we recommend the medium or short cadet oars.
Choose oars,
set the rigging.
The following is our guide to choosing scull oars and deciding rigging for Adaptive / PARA rowers, and will be suitable for most Adaptive / 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.
Example Calculations
For example, if the span is 140 cm, then the inboard will be around 70 cm:
Stronger and more experienced rowers can have higher gearing; beginners and weaker rowers need lower gearing to maximise performance and reduce injury.
Rigging Recommendations
| Span (cm) | Inboard | Length (cm) | Outboard (cm) | Gearing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS beginner | 130–140 | About ½ of span | 230–250 | 160–185 | 2.3–2.7 |
| AS | 125–140 | About ½ of span | 240–270 | 170–200 | 2.5–3.2 |
| TA beginner | 140–155 | About ½ of span | 245–270 | 165–190 | 2.3–2.5 |
| TA | 135–155 | About ½ of span | 260–285 | 180–205 | 2.4–2.8 |
| Sliding seat 1x comparison | 157–160 | 87–90 | 286–291 | 198–202 | 2.2–2.3 |
- AS = Arms & Shoulders. TA = Trunk & Arms. Inboard recommendation is about ½ of span across all categories.
- Figures are based on rowing the FISA design 1x and 2x, which, with their wide shapes, are significantly heavier to pull through the water than a fine racing shell.
Built for big,
heavy CO boats.
Swift produces scull oars specifically for coastal rowing, available in 2 lengths and in only 1 grade, Club Performance (CP).
The CP grade is the same shaft construction as the CP Regular Scull Oars, but with a little additional fibreglass to improve durability. Since CO boats are big and heavy, it is not appropriate to use HP oars as they are too stiff.
Lengths
There are 2 lengths of coastal scull oars, Standard and Short.
| A2 Blade | A3 Blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: Length (cm) | 286–292 | 291–297 |
| Standard: Outboard (cm) | 190–205 | 195–210 |
| Short: Length (cm) | 283–289 | 288–293 |
| Short: Outboard (cm) | 188.5–203.5 | 193.5–208.5 |
| Length adjustment (cm) | 6 | 6 |
* Outboard = Oar Length − Inboard.
Coastal CP vs Regular CP
Regular CP scull oars shown below for comparison: same blade and finish, but Coastal uses 65% carbon (vs 70%) and is heavier and more flexible for the larger, heavier coastal hulls.
| Coastal Scull Oars (CP) | Regular Scull Oars (CP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grade sticker | Red | Red |
| Blade material | Carbon, PVC | Carbon, PVC |
| Blade finish | White gel coat | White gel coat |
| Total weight: kg (per piece) | 1.62 ± 0.03 | 1.48 ± 0.03 |
| Maximum variation per pair: kg | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shaft material | Carbon 65% | Carbon 70% |
| Shaft stiffness: mm (medium) | 63 ± 2 | 48 ± 2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: mm | 3 | 2 |
| Balance point: cm (from handle) | 140 ± 2 | 140 ± 2 |
| Maximum variation per pair: cm | 1 | 1 |
- Balance point and weight are calculated with 286–292 cm long A2 blades. Other lengths and oars with A3 blades will be slightly different.
- "Maximum variation" means between the strokeside (port) and bowside (starboard) oars in 1 pair.
- Our oars have the balance point at about 139 cm from handle, compared to 145–148 cm for CII & Braca. This gives more upward force in the hand, so it will feel a little different.
One length.
One grade.
Regular sweep oars are made in only 1 length, and there is only 1 grade of regular sweep oars, Club Performance (CP).
Length
| A2 Blade | |
|---|---|
| Standard: Length (cm) | 370–376 |
| Standard: Outboard (cm) | 105.5–123.5 |
| Length adjustment (cm) | 6 |
* Outboard = Oar Length − Inboard.
Specifications
| Regular Sweep Oars | Club Performance (CP) |
|---|---|
| Grade sticker | Red |
| Blade material | Carbon, PVC |
| Blade finish | White gel coat |
| Total weight: kg (per piece) | 2.83 ± 0.05 |
| Shaft material | Carbon 80% |
| Shaft stiffness: mm (medium) | 50 ± 6 |
| Balance point: cm (from handle) | 179 ± 3 |
- Balance point and weight are calculated with A2 blades.
- Our oars have the balance point at about 179 cm from handle, compared to 183–186 cm for CII & Braca. This gives more upward force in the hand, so will feel a little different.
Blades
| A2 Blade | |
|---|---|
| Edge | No |
| Size: L × W (cm) | 54 × 25.5 |
| Area (cm²) | 1190 |
* Blade length is along the axis of the shaft; width is maximum width.
Read the shaft.
Know the oar.
To make it easy to know the type and size of the oars, we stick the length and oar-type stickers on the shaft. Use the chart below to identify what you're holding.
All the details
in one PDF.
Full length tables, weight and stiffness charts for every grade and length, the stiffness measurement method, and the complete adaptive rigging guide with span / inboard / outboard / gearing recommendations.