Octuple scull

An octuple scull (abbreviated 8X) is a racing shell or a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. The octuple is directed by a coxswain and propelled by eight rowers who move the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand. Like a coxed eight, an octuple is typically 65.2 feet (19.9 meters) long and weighs 211.2 pounds (95.8 kilograms).[1]

Octuple scull icon
Above: an octuple is a sculling shell with 16 oars and 8 rowers;
Right: a contrasting sweep eight

Racing boats (often called "shells") are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-section in order to reduce drag to a minimum. They usually have a fin towards the rear, to help prevent roll and yaw. Originally made from wood, shells are now almost always made from a composite material (usually carbon-fibre reinforced plastic) for strength and weight advantages. The riggers in sculling apply the forces symmetrically to each side of the boat.

When there are eight rowers in a boat, each with only one sweep oar and rowing on opposite sides, the combination is referred to as a "coxed eight." In sweep oared racing the rigging means the forces are staggered alternately along the boat.

Notes
  1. Rowing Equipment, fuzilogik.com
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References
  • "Rowing Evolution in Octuple Sculling" (PDF). New York Times. 5 November 1905. p. 12. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
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