Nix on 17 Jun 2005  •  Link

"What is the difference between rowing and sculling?

"In rowing, each rower uses one oar with both hands. In sculling, each sculler uses two oars, one in each hand. Rowing is also known as sweep rowing and the oars as 'sweep oars'. The oars used in sculling are also known as 'sculls'. Please see our Rowing Guide (or a dictionary) for more."

http://www.ara-rowing.org/bfaq.htm

in Aqua Scripto on 8 Jan 2006  •  Link

fares 155X : for a wherry man et al http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/boa…

Terry Foreman on 25 Jun 2009  •  Link

Sculling refers to the use of oars to propel a boat or other watercraft, but the word is used in a number of ways:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scul…

CGS on 19 Nov 2009  •  Link

sculler, n [scull]

3entries for Mr P
1. One who propels a boat by means of a scull or a pair of sculls; one skilled in the management of a sculling-boat.
1660 PEPYS Diary 2 Nov., I was told the Queen was a-coming; so I got a sculler for sixpence to carry me thither and back again.

4. attrib. and Comb., as sculler-boat, a sculling-boat; sculler-man, one who plies a sculling-boat for hire. Obs.
1663 PEPYS Diary 1 May, Going thither..I met a boy in a sculler-boat.

scull, n.1

[Of obscure origin.
Some would identify it with SKULL bowl, goblet, supposing that the name refers to the hollowed form of the blade; but this seems very improbable.]

1. A kind of oar. a. An oar used to propel a boat by working it from side to side over the stern of the boat, reversing the blade at each turn. Also in Comb., as scull-hole = sculling-hole s.v. SCULLING vbl. n. b. b. An oar, shorter and lighter than a ‘rowing’ oar, so that a pair can be operated at once by one person, who sits midway between the sides of the boat.
1345....

1674 PETTY Disc. R. Soc. 56 Suppose a Paralellipipedon-Boat or Vessel, of breadth fit for a pair of Skulls..and of length sufficient for 9 such Skulls or Oars.

2. A boat propelled with a scull or a pair of sculls; a sculling-boat. Obs.
1611 COTGR., Napelette, a small skiffe, scull, or cocke-boat. 1661 PEPYS Diary 3 Dec., Thence by water..being carried by him in oares that the other day rowed in a scull faster than my oares to the Towre.

also: A scullion. Also Comb. scull-boy.

also a name for gull bird

Not to be confused with scullery [maid]
1. The department of a household concerned with the care of the plates, dishes, and kitchen utensils. Also the room or rooms in which the work of this department is carried on. Obs. exc. Hist.

also not to be confused Scullion

A domestic servant of the lowest rank in a household who performed the menial offices of the kitchen; hence, a person of the lowest order, esp. as an abusive epithet. Now only arch.

Bill on 24 Oct 2014  •  Link

On 22 July 1660 a "pair of oars" is mentioned, with annotations.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

San Diego Sarah on 4 Dec 2024  •  Link

Glyn on 5 Dec 2004 told us that:

In 1722 "oars" were twice as expensive as "sculls", and travel from the Wardrobe under London Bridge to the Tower of London would have cost the standard set of prices 6d (6 pennies AKA 6 pence) for oars and 3d for sculls.
The prices would have been slightly lower in Pepys' time 60 years earlier.

This indicates that the trip takes longer with skulls. Oars should be faster, and more effective when the tide was against them or they had the equivalent of a traffic jam -- the river could get crowded.

For comparison, in 2005 a trip by ferry between Blackfriars Pier, under London Bridge to St. Katherines Pier near the Tower of London takes 12 minutes and costs about 2l.s 25 pence (less a 1/3 discount if you have a Travelcard). A comparison of 6 old pence in 1722 to the 2005 price is an increase of about 90 times.

For the original post, links and context, go to
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

San Diego Sarah on 4 Dec 2024  •  Link

Nigel Pond on 24 Jul 2003 shared that "Oars" and "sculls" are very different:

Technically speaking there is a distinction between "oars" and "sculls" -- oars (or even more correctly, "blades") being the long ones each manned by a single rower, and sculls being the shorter ones that come in pairs manned by a single sculler.

For water transportation, sculls were used, as speed was not of the essence and one man could ply the trade alone.
In competition there are events for sculling and rowing, and the famous "Doggett's Coat and Badge" is a sculling race for Thames watermen.

Oustide technical circles, the word "oars" is used to mean both types.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…