What simpler pleasure in life is there than messing about on the river. There you are in a boat with your loved one or just yourself chilling out gently pulling oars on a rowing boat across the river or maybe even out to sea (although not too far out or else you might suddenly find yourself in the shipping lane of the cross-channel ferry). The use of Oars & Nautical equipment is a fundamental part of propelling a boat. Perhaps you’ve gotten the bug for it, all this rowing lark and would like to use the Maritime theme in the home. Oars can be made in a variety of different ways depending on the materials being used. Injection Moulding such as that offered by meadex.co.uk/services/#injection-moulding is one such option, as is carving the oars from solid blocks of wood. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and also amazing that we still use it today showing its longevity.
Let’s be clear on the difference. On oar is not a paddle. The Oar only has one flat blade at one end whereas the paddle has two one at each end. You’ll find there are two oars in a traditional rowing boat and it’s a bit of skill to get the timing right to propel you through the water. Ever wondered what those bits of metal called that hold the oars in place or the holes? They are rowlocks and they stop the oars from slipping out of place. As you pull the oars through the water you propel yourself along as the oars catch in the water and provide the thrust.
The idea is to lift the oars out of the water pull them level with yourself, sink them into the water, lean back and then pull them back sweeping the water away from you to push you along. It’s extremely good exercise for the arms and upper torso. You can see though after a while why our ancestors thought that the sail might be a good idea and then when they got tired of being becalmed the outboard motor.
The oar can be dated back to Neolithic times as means of moving a boat and it was also the way of propelling the ships of the Greek and Roman Triremes and Galleys although you’d have had some help with the other 50 to 80 other slaves pulling as well. Being a galley slave was not the most fun job in the world as the film Ben Hur shows quite adequately. Most oars you find are still made of wood, but the real fancy sporting ones are usually carbon fibre. Anyway, I’ll let you get back on with planning your next trip out on the water.
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