Scull Shells: Understanding Weight and Size

If you've ever tried to manoeuvre a scull shell out of a shed or carry one down to the water's edge, you might have wondered why they're so long, or why some are heavier than others. For many rowers, especially those new to the sport, these questions pop up only after they’ve had to lift a shell for the first time.

This page is here to give you a bit of insight into the weight and size of different scull shells, explaining how these factors come into play and what they mean for your rowing experience.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to get a better grip—literally—on your equipment, understanding the basics of your scull’s dimensions can make a big difference.

First, there are actually two types of rowing that we often lump together under the word “row”.

Sculls or sculling, is when each rower has two oars, one in each hand. You can have a single scull because those two oars will already keep the boat going forward. It is quite common to see two or more people in a scull. A double sculling boat has two people rowing, while a boat with four rowers is called a quad.

Sweep rowing is the other type. This is where each person in the boat uses both hands to control a single oar. There must always be an even number of rowers, otherwise, the boat would simply turn in circles!

As with sculling, sweep rowing can have two, four, or even eight rowers in the boat. (For obvious reasons a single can only be a scull)

Now that you’ve got the terminology down, let’s talk about the shells (the term we use when we refer to the boats).

The most common boats have the approximate weights and lengths below.