The Effect Of Oar Design On Scull Boat Dynamic: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify and compare the boat dynamics of a single scull rowed by an elite rower using both macon and hatchet oars. Onwater accelerometry was performed using a new acceleraometer, the g analyst. Videography was used to identify stroke phases. All biomechanical parameters such as peak horizontal linear positive acceleration, average horizontal linear acceleration, duration of the horizontal linear positive acceleration phase and the positive and total impulse were greater with the hatchet oars compared to the macon oars. These preliminary quantitative findings would suggest that the hatchet oar design is more efficient than the macon oar design in terms of the biomechanical parameters investigated, for this rower, in this single scull over a limited number of strokes. Further, more elaborate investigations of complete races are needed to substantiate these findings. Accelerometry may prove to be an important analytical tool for the coach and athlete in matching the right oar design and boat design to athlete, and for matching athletes in multiple person events, and for technique corrections.