Crab resistant, load shifting, puller oarlock and rigger assembly

Abstract

An oar or scull is attached to the racing shell with an assembly that assures all motions required for rowing and restricts others. Over squaring and over feathering of the blade is prevented using stops which also provide positive feedback of blade orientation to the athlete and eliminate oarlock slap and rattle. Pulling on the oar handle inboard approximately 0.2 inches prior to squaring or feathering the blade moves the oarshaft outboard or inboard respectively, changing the leverage or load, at the completion of squaring or feathering. Normal rowing at the selected load is maintained with a steady outboard force of the oar handle. The oarlock is situated on the bow side of the vertical pin pulling the pin toward the bow during the propulsive phase of the rowing stroke. The vertical pin is supported by rigging which extends from the top and bottom of the vertical pin toward the stern. This rigging arrangement assures a stable pin that remains vertical because the restraining member is in tension toward the stern.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oar lock assembly for adjusting the leverage of an oar relative a boat, during a feathering position and a squaring position, said lock assembly comprising: 
 a threaded sleeve member adapted to mount to the oar, said sleeve member defining squaring sleeve cut, an opposite feathering sleeve cut and a stabilizing sleeve cut positioned therebetween;    an oarlock frame device having a passage formed to slidably receive the threaded sleeve member, and having feathering stop engaging the feathering sleeve cut in the feathering position while a squaring stop is engaged with the stabilizing sleeve cut, and said squaring stop engaging the squaring sleeve cut in the squaring position while the feathering stop is engaged with the stabilizing; and    a collar device contained in the frame device, and having an inboard engaging end adapted to engage the frame device during an inboard urging of the oar to enable inboard axial movement of the sleeve member at the feathering position, and an outboard engaging end adapted to engage the frame device during an outboard urging of the oar to enable outboard axial movement of the sleeve member at the squaring position.