A Rowlock, also known as Oarlock, is a British term to describe the device that attaches an oar to a boat. When a boat is rowed, the rowlock acts as a fulcrum, and in doing so, the propulsive force the rower exerts on the water with the oar is transferred to the boat by the thrust force exerted on the rowlock.

In ordinary rowing crafts, the rowlocks are attached to the gunwhales. In the sport of rowing, the rowlocks are attached to outriggers (often called "riggers"), which project from the boat and provide better leverage. In sport rowing, the rowlocks are normally "U" shaped and attached to a vertical pin which allows the Rowlock to pivot around the pin during the rowing stroke. They additionally have a locking mechanism across the top of the "U" to prevent the oar from unintenionally popping out of the rowlock.

Originally rowlocks were two wooden posts, that the shaft of the oar nestled between.

Rowing

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