What Are Olympic Rowing Boats Called?

Olympic rowing boats are called shells. Each class has a name and a short code, and once you know the pattern they are easy to read.

The code

Codes use a number for how many rowers there are and a letter for the type.

• x means sculling, with two oars per rower.
• - means sweep rowing without a cox, with one oar per rower.
• + means a cox.

So 1x is a single scull, 2- is a coxless pair, and 8+ is an eight with a cox. You will also see 4x for a quad and 4- for a coxless four. At club level there are further boats, such as the coxed four (4+) and the coxed quad (4x+).

Sculling boats

• Single scull (1x): one rower, two oars.
• Double scull (2x): two scullers.
• Quadruple scull (4x): four scullers.

Sculling boats are generally quicker to learn on than sweep boats, because each rower has two oars to help with balance. The single, though, is the hardest to keep upright at first, as there is only one person’s balance to manage.

Sweep boats

• Coxless pair (2-): two rowers, one oar each.
• Coxless four (4-): four rowers, one oar each.
• Eight (8+): eight rowers and a cox.

In sweep rowing, rowers sit alternately on the left and right of the boat. The ones whose oar is on the stroke’s side are called “stroke side” rowers, and the others “bow side”. The seat nearest the stern is called stroke and sets the rhythm. The seat nearest the bow is called bow, and the bow rower is often the one who steers in coxless boats.

Lightweight rowers use the same boats with weight limits. At Paris 2024 the only lightweight events were the men’s and women’s double sculls, and they are not on the Los Angeles 2028 programme.

Only the eight has a cox

At the Olympics, the eight is the only boat with a cox, who steers and calls the race. In coxless boats, one rower steers using a small rudder operated by a foot. Our guide to how Olympic rowers steer explains how.

The Olympic events at a glance

Code	Name	Rowers	Oars each	Cox
1x	Single scull	1	2	No
2x	Double scull	2	2	No
4x	Quadruple scull	4	2	No
2-	Coxless pair	2	1	No
4-	Coxless four	4	1	No
8+	Eight	8	1	Yes

Men’s and women’s events use the same boats. At Paris 2024, lightweight double sculls also appeared for men and women, making 14 events. For Los Angeles 2028 they make way for three beach sprint events, which are raced in coastal boats rather than shells. For how the format works, read Olympic rowing rules.

Sculling versus sweep

The two styles use different technique. In sculling, each hand holds an oar, while in sweep rowing the rower holds one oar with both hands. See sculling versus sweep rowing for a full comparison.

Size and weight

Boats vary a great deal in length. World Rowing’s equipment rules set a minimum of 7.2 metres, and the eight is by far the longest boat on the water. A racing shell is narrow, which cuts drag but makes it unstable. Boats are also built to a minimum weight, which differs by class: 14 kg for a single, 27 kg for a double or pair, 50 kg for a four, 52 kg for a quad and 96 kg for an eight, not counting the oars.

Which boat should a beginner start in?

Most clubs start novices in wider, more stable training boats, often a coxed four or a sculling quad, before moving to a racing single or pair. If you are interested, join a club and ask about learn-to-row courses. See rowing for beginners.

More on boats

For a broader look, see rowing boat types and the anatomy of a rowing shell. For the Games, visit the Olympic rowing hub.