Oar

An oar is a piece of equipment used to propel a boat. Oars are fixed to a fulcrum on the boat known either as an oarlock or via pins and clips. Oarlocks allow the oar to be pulled into the boat slightly and then feathered. Pins and clips do not allow the blade to be feathered at all and are usually preferred by beginners. The rower generally faces the stern of the boat, and a pull forward on the oar's handle causes the blade of the oar on the other side of the fulcrum to impart a force backwards on the water, causing a resultant forward force on the boat. And the boat moves forward. The exception is when entering a rapid in a raft. Because rafts are symetrical they go forward and backward equally well and the trade off in strength while pushing on the oars (as opposed to pulling) is easily offset by the ability to see where you are going in big rapids.

It is improper to call an oar a paddle. Paddles are generally held in the hands of the paddler and use no fulcrum fixed to the boat.

A rower rows a boat using oars. One rows a rowboat, dinghy, wherry, raft, cataraft, or dory.

A paddler paddles a boat using paddles. One paddles a kayak, canoe, dragon boat, raft or currach.

A raft is the only vessel listed both places because it can be propelled either way. It is not uncommon to see it use both forms of propulsion. This is usually known as paddle assist since the guide is always on the oars (if present) but the assistance of the crew using paddles is sometimes needed in big rapids. There is even a stern frame that can be attached to the rear of a raft so that the front and middle can be occupied by passengers that may or may not be paddling as well.