Boat Speed Comparator

Compare speed differences between different boat classes based on your erg split.

Compare Boats

Your Erg Split (/500m)

Minutes

Seconds

From Boat Class

To Boat Class

1x

Single Scull

8+

Eight

5:41.5

Predicted 2K Time

+18.7% faster

1:45

Erg Split

/500m

1:25.4

Predicted Split

/500m

123%

Speed Factor

vs 1x

All Boat Predictions

1xSingle Scull
7:00.01:45.0/500m
2xDouble Scull
6:28.91:37.2/500m
2-Pair
6:36.21:39.1/500m
4xQuadruple Scull
6:02.11:30.5/500m
4-Four
6:08.41:32.1/500m
4+Coxed Four
6:18.41:34.6/500m
8+Eight
5:41.51:25.4/500m
LM1xLW Single
7:35.01:53.8/500m
LM2xLW Double
7:04.11:46.0/500m

Single Scull

Solo sculling boat, the purest test of individual rowing ability.

Eight

The flagship boat class. ~23% faster than 1x (Men WR: 5:18).

About Speed Factors
  • Speed factors are based on average crew power output ratios
  • More rowers = more power, but also more weight and drag
  • Sculling boats (2x, 4x) are slightly faster than sweep (2-, 4-)
  • The Eight (8+) is the fastest boat class overall

Erg to On-Water Conversion

Erg times don't translate directly to boat speed because water resistance, crew synchronization, rigging, and conditions all play a role. This tool uses empirical correction factors derived from published rowing research to estimate how erg watts translate to boat speed in each class. The conversion is approximate — on-water performance varies with technique, weather, and crew quality.

Why Erg Times Don't Equal Boat Times

On the erg, you row against air resistance that increases with the cube of flywheel speed. On water, you row against hull drag that increases with the square of boat speed, plus wind resistance, wave action, and blade inefficiency. In crew boats, synchronisation losses mean the boat speed is always less than the sum of individual erg powers would predict. A crew of four rowers who each pull a 6:30 2K on the erg will not produce a boat time equivalent to 6:30.

Boat Classes and Speed

Larger boats are faster because the power-to-drag ratio improves with crew size. An eight (8+) is the fastest rowing boat, followed by the coxless four (4-), pair (2-), and single (1x). The speed difference between boat classes is significant: over a 2000m course, an elite men's eight finishes in about 5:20, while an elite men's single takes about 6:35. This tool estimates how your erg score would translate to each boat class, accounting for these differences.

See our Methodology for the models used.

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Standards & Guides