Croker Rowing Oars

Shafts
Blades
Handles
Sleeves

Sculling Shafts

S4 Full Carbon	These are the premiere sculling shafts for men's senior and elite competition, as well as world-class elite women. The shafts are 100% carbon, and exhibit sharper finishes and energy return than our elite level S2 models. This is the oar for anyone pursuing National Team goals, but also for anyone who wants every mile to feel exquisite. The recommended 2000m erg score is 7:00 and faster. The appropriate 2000m water time in ideal conditions is 7:30 and faster.
Weight:	1380 grams
Blade Options:	Elite rowers will usually select the full slick blade, while those below that level may opt for the slick cutaway, as the load of the full slick blade may require excessive shortening of the outboard measurement. The reduced blade surface of the slick cutaway allows for normal length settings, and may help reduce lower back overuse injuries.
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable

S2 Superlight	These are our world-proven sculling shafts for men's senior and elite competition, as well as world-class elite women. The shafts are a mix of 80% to 85% carbon and the balance in fiberglass. These shafts are excellent choices for anyone seeking to win at the national racing levels in junior, elite, and masters competition.The recommended 2000m erg score is 7:00 and faster. The appropriate 2000m water time in ideal conditions is 7:30 and faster.
Weight:	1430 grams
Blade Options:	Elite rowers will usually select the full slick blade, while those below that level may opt for the slick cutaway, as the load of the full slick blade may require excessive shortening of the outboard measurement. The reduced blade surface of the slick cutaway allows for normal length settings, and may help reduce lower back overuse injuries.
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable

S4 Soft Full Carbon	With a slightly more forgiving introduction to the full load at the catch, the S4 Soft are the recommended shafts for rowers below the standards for the regular stiffness S4, or those preferring a little more flex. It is ideal for juniors, women, as well as men below the pre-elite level. It is also popular choice for smaller elite women racing the single scull. There is no difference in the propulsive power of this shaft. The additional 3-5 mm deflection simply gives the lower back an easier path to full power. This may help reduce lower back overuse injuries.
Weight:	1350 grams
Blade Options:	Strong heavyweights may prefer the full slick blade, but the greater tendency, supported by customer feedback, is that the slick cutaway blade is more desirable.
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable

S2 Soft Superlight	With a slightly more forgiving introduction to the full load at the catch, the S2 Soft are the recommended shafts for rowers below the standards for the regular stiffness S2, or those preferring a little more flex. It is ideal for juniors, women, as well as men below the pre-elite level. It is also popular choice for smaller elite women racing the single scull. There is no difference in the propulsive power of this shaft. The additional 3-5 mm deflection simply gives the lower back an easier path to full power. This may help reduce lower back overuse injuries.
Weight:	1410 grams
Blade Options:	Strong heavyweights may prefer the full slick blade, but the greater tendency, supported by customer feedback, is that the slick cutaway blade is more desirable.
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable

S3 Intermediate	This is the recommended oar for club use and shared equipment situations. The S3 shaft has the same stiffness as the S2 Soft, but is significantly more durable. They are the best oar for fleet purchasing in club or scholastic sculling programs.
Weight:	1550 grams
Blade Options:	Slick, Slick Cutaway
Handle Options:	Carbon Adjustable




• S4 shafts are 100% carbon fiber, S2 shafts are 80-85% carbon fiber, 15-20% fiberglass.
• There is no difference in deflection per stiffness label between the S2 and S4 shafts; only the construction and weight vary.
• S4 shafts are available, but occasionally require special order
• "S2 Stiff" and "S4 Stiff" shafts are special order
• It is suggested that you not order "up" to a stiffer shaft and "learn to row it". Purchase the shaft that will allow you to go fast--without injury--now.
• It is suggested for all lightweight womens' crews to use a cutaway blade.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, our sculling oars are built to a standard, centered length of 288 cm, allowing a range of settings from 285 cm to 291 cm. Shorter custom sets at 285 or 286 centered length are available upon specific request. Unless you are using the oars for alternative applications (ocean rowing), we do not recommend longer lengths. If you wish to make a length change to an order once production has begun, this can be extremely difficult. Oars are cut to a specific length and holes for the adjustable mechanism are drilled in a specific place. It is possible to patch and reposition (at no charge) your components with only superficial cosmetic effects, but there will be a 25% surcharge to begin a new order. Please keep in mind that each oar is hand-assembled, and to some degree this may result in a rough or utilitarian finish appearance. During manufacturing in Australia, minor cosmetic imperfections are a natural part of the rolling, molding and curing processes. The assembly process here in the stateside workshop may also produce its share of superficial scratches and blemishes, especially when order specifications require cut-downs or other modifications. These cosmetic imperfections in no way affect the performance of the oar or diminish oar value. Therefore, we cannot accept complaints about differences in surface appearance, gelcoat primer fairing or spray coverage, shaft wrap-tape pattern, or any issue not related to structural integrity and performance. These cosmetic issues are like fingerprints--unique cosmetic characteristics unrelated to functionality. Your oar is designed to be a heavy leverage tool with rugged durability. Accordingly, your oars are structurally tested and certified before leaving the workshop.

Slick Sculling Blade

The Slick Sculling Blade in normally assembled with a 40mm hook. A smaller blade is available for women and schoolgirls who want slightly lighter load at the catch. Slick Blades are available on all shafts.

The Slick Blade has no ridgeline so there is less splash at the catch. The low volume blade enters the water quickly and quietly and floats low in the water. The longitudinal curvature is perpendicular to the tip and so is in line with the flow of water. It has a constant pitch across the tip and all lines parallel to the tip.

Our standard full slick blade is one of the largest traditional hatchet/cleaver style blades available.

The Slick Blade does not exhibit any negative tendencies during recovery or in bad weather.

The blade can be reduced in size--"cutaway"-- for women and schoolgirls, or those who have a history of back/rib injuries. Slick Oar

Because of the arc path followed by the blade during the stroke, this cutaway section is most effective when the blade moves through the 'sweet spot' and water hits the face of the blade most directly. With less surface area, the cutaway blade encounters less resistance because some water flow is not 'stopped' by the missing piece. One would row a cutaway slick at longer shaft length than one would a full slick. For crews who might find the full slick was too much load at their preferred length, the only option (besides cutting it down) is to shorten the overall adjustable length of the oar.

For some, this can be uncomfortably (and ineffectively) short as they seek to find a manageable load rigging, and not appropriate to some specific rowing styles. The cutaway allows these rowers to use the more familiar and traditional lengths by reducing the load at the bladeface, allowing them to extend the oar back out to where they like it. Slick cutaway blades are regularly rowed to world championship medals, the same as full slick blades, on both Superlight and Soft Superlight shafts.

Sculling Handles

Selecting a handle that is correct for you is necessary to achieve the best performance. A handle that is too small will cause trouble in the rough water and may turn in the rower's hand uncontrollably. A handle that is too big will fatigue the rower's forearms and also result in excessive wrist movement feathering the oar. All our sculling handles come fitted with our injection moulded thermoplastic grips. These second-generation grips have gained universal acceptance since their release and all include an anti-bacterial agent to stop the growth of bacteria and fungus.

From the initial work that we have done, there seems to be a strong correlation between hand size (measured from the base of the thumb and the tip of the fingers) and preferred grip size. We have collected enough data so that we are now able to develop this simple chart relating hand size to grip size. This should enable coaches to order the most suitable handles, particularly for school-age rowers. All sculling cars are fitted with carbon adjustable handles.

Adjustable Carbon Handles
The Carbon handles are avaliable in three sizes small, medium and large.
small  black - 26mm
medium  yellow - 29mm
large  white - 32mm

Grips are also available in a variety of sizes
Pink grip (small) 31mm outside diameter fits onto small handle.
Yellow grip (intermediate) 34mm outside diameter fits onto medium handle.
Blue grip (standard) 35 mm outside diameter fits onto medium handle.
Grey grip (large) 37mm outside diameter fits onto large handle.

From the initial work that we have done, there seems to be a strong correlation between hand size (measured from the inside base of the thumb to the tips of the fingers) and preferred grip size.

Sculling Sleeves

The sculling sleeves are a copolymer interlocking injection-moulded design. The inboard measurements are calibrated on the back of the clip, relative to the cut length of the oars.

All new sculling oars come with the Mark 3 asymmetric sleeve, unless the customer explicitly special orders one of the previous versions. Availability of the traditional Mark 1 symmetric and Mark 2 asymmetric sleeves may be limited, as they are only ordered and produced as needed. Croker reserves the right to discontinue production and sales of these older versions at any time.

Mark 1 - Symmetric: The traditional sculling sleeves come in two parts: the sleeve body and the clip (back). The inboard measurements are calibrated on the back of the clip.The geometry of the sculling sleeve, if combined with rowlocks that have a 95-degree inside corner, provides excellent stability at the catch. The sculling clips can be replaced as required without removing the sleeve. The traditional symmetric design is not recommended for use with the Magik oarlocks as the oarlocks produce excessive wear on the sleeve.

Mark 2 - Asymmetric: The sculling sleeve was added to the lineup in 2005 after the Athens Olympics. This double ended sleeve performs better because it only has two major flat surfaces. The assymetric design reduces the distance between the shaft and the swivel face. It is more stable square or feathered and positive in it movement, squaring and feathering. The Mark 2 design uses screws to hold the interlocking front and back together. This asymmetric design is not recommended for use with the Magik oarlocks as the oarlocks produce excessive wear on the sleeve.

Mark 3 - Asymmetric: This latest sculling sleeve was added to the lineup in 2007. It is a minor upgrade to the Mark 2 asymmetric sleeve and is held together with plastic interlocking clips, and no screws. This double ended sleeve performs better because it only has two flat surfaces. The asymmetric design reduces the distance between the shaft and the swivel face. It is more stable square or feathered and positive in it movement, squaring and feathering. This asymmetric design is not recommended for use with the Magik oarlocks as the oarlocks produce excessive wear on the sleeve.


Traditional Symmetric with Backplate Clip	Mark 2 Asymmetrical with screw-in clip	Mark 3 Asymmetrical with clip-in clip

NOTE: We DO NOT recommend using Magik oarlocks as they tend to wear out both Croker sleeves and collars faster due to the additional points of contact.

Sculling Oars

Sculling Shafts

Slick Sculling Blade

Sculling Handles

Sculling Sleeves

Frequently Asked Questions