Before practice, which maintenance check should be performed on oars?

• A. Inspect blades for cracks
• B. Clean and polish oar handles
• C. Check boat hull for damage
• D. Inspect seating straps

Answer: (A)

Before practice, the most important maintenance check for oars is inspecting the blades for cracks. The blade is the part that experiences the most direct water impact and the highest stress during catches and drives, so a crack can quickly propagate under load and lead to sudden blade failure in the middle of a stroke. This creates a real safety risk for rowers and can ruin a session. To check, visually examine the entire blade surface—look for hairline cracks, chips, delamination, or any warping or deformation. If you find any damage, do not use the oar and arrange for repair or replacement. Cleaning and polishing the handles or inspecting seating straps are worthwhile for comfort and overall safety, but they don’t address the critical failure point in oars before a row. Checking the boat hull is essential too, but that relates to the boat rather than the oars.