How do oars move a rowboat through the water?

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Alaska: Commercial fishing — boat A commercial salmon-fishing boat in Alaska.

A rowboat is propelled through the water by the use of oars, which act as levers to generate motion.1

There are two primary methods for rowing:
* Pulling: The rower sits facing the stern and uses their arms and back to pull the oars through the water.1
* Pushing: The rower faces the bow and allows their body weight to fall forward onto the oars to create propulsion.1

A well-designed rowboat is intended to glide between strokes, ensuring that the vessel's forward momentum is maintained continuously. By establishing a steady tempo, a rower can keep the boat moving efficiently for extended periods. In competitive contexts, specialized racing shells utilize sliding seats, which allow rowers to maximize the power applied during each sweep of the oar.1