If you're going to be rowing for long stretches balance is very important. For short distances, not so much.

Buoyancy does affect the balance.  The oars should have slightly more weight outboard of the oarlock. The exact amount depends on how much of the blade is meant to be in the water and for how long during each stroke.

The best thing to do is to try the oars, then add weight along the length and move that weight until the balance feels good while rowing. Then you can decide whether to leave th eadditional weight or to remove mood until the balance matches the experiment.

Have fun,

Laszlo

Hi Laszlo,

thanks for your help and practical approach. I guess this is the only real way to find out, but its still a while to go until early summer has arrived and we finally will put our Skerry in the waters for the first time. Till then still a lot is to do such as varnishing the oars and attaching the leather collars. Thats how the question on balancing oars came up. I guess I need to be patient and see how the oars will feel.

Reinhard

   Hi,

just found this page concerning how to balance oars: http://www.tsca.net/puget/resources/oars/John_DeLapp_Oars.pdf

It answers my questions very well. Lets see how it will turn out in the end.

Reinhard

Reinhart,

 There is a really good and descriptive book that can answer just about any question on rowing, setup, balance, etc.

"The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Rigging" by Mike Davenport                    A step by step guide to the Rigging of Rowing Equipment for Beginners and Intermediates

Mouse House Books 1988,1992

library of congress catalog card number  92-91056

Hope it helps.

Rowboy   (formerly usrowboy)