FISA Boat Weights, Construction & Buoyancy Guidelines
FISA Boat Weights
FISA establishes minimum weights for each of the eight boat classes used in international competition. Many major regattas also require boats to meet these minimums. The minimums are the same for all competition classes (e.g., Men, Women, Masters).
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| Boat Type | FISA Minimum Weight |
|---|---|
| Single Scull (1x) | 14kg (30.86 lbs) |
| Double Scull (2x) | 27kg (59.52 lbs) |
| Pair Without Coxswain (2-) | 27kg (59.52 lbs) |
| Pair With Coxswain (2+) | 32kg (68.34 lbs) |
| Four Without Coxswain (4-) | 50kg (110.23 lbs) |
| Four With Coxswain (4+) | 51kg (112.44 lbs) |
| Quadruple Sculls (4x) | 52kg (114.64 lbs) |
| Eight (8+) | 96kg (211.64 lbs) |
The minimum weight includes riggers, seats and foot stretchers, but does not include oars or electronic amplifiers, stroke counters, etc. Rather than removing these items, crews can choose to accept a weight allowance for them, as follows: Speaker: 0.15 kg; cables, bottle holder, and a wire with magnet for a stroke coach: 0.1 kg each.
FISA Boat Construction
FISA allows boatmakers to use any material or design they choose, with a few notable exceptions:
- All rowing shells must have displacement hulls;
- Riblets or coatings designed to reduce drag are prohibited;
- All eights used in international competition must be sectional (this is so that crews who must ship their boats overseas in standard shipping containers will not be at a disadvantage);
- The minimum length for all racing boats is 7.2 meters (23.62 feet) (this is to ensure the boat is long enough so that it can be aligned from a stake-boat).
FISA Boat Buoyancy Guideline
Beginning in 2007, new boats must have sufficient flotation so that when swamped, they float with the seats not less than 5 centimetres below the waterline with the crew in normal rowing position.
