ABSTRACT
In a single scull, the sculler sits on a sliding seat and is fixed to the boat by the shoes on the footrest. The oars (sculls) act as second class levers, with the pivot point at or near the junction between the shaft of the scull and the blade, with the effort of the sculler applied at the handle and transmitted through the oarlock (gate) to the rigger. This force serves to drive the boat during the power phase of the rowing stroke. Drag on the boat comes in the form of viscous or skin friction drag (proportional to the boat velocity), form drag due to the formation of a wake (dependent on hull form and proportional to boat velocity), and wave drag (proportional to boat length and the square root of the velocity) due to the formation of a bow and stern wave.
