where oars are attached

Oars are attached to a boat at a pivot point on the gunwale (side of the boat) using hardware called an oarlock or rowlock , sometimes in combination with a rigger frame on racing shells.

What “where oars are attached” means

• On traditional rowboats, the oar sits in an oarlock or a simple peg-and-pin setup called a thole on the boat’s side.

• In modern sport rowing, oars are held in oarlocks mounted at the ends of metal frames called riggers that stick out from the hull.

• The oar’s shaft has a collar or button that rests against the oarlock to prevent the oar from sliding too far through.

Quick illustration

Imagine sitting in a rowboat facing the stern:

• The blade of the oar is in the water outside the boat.
• The middle of the oar rests in the oarlock on the gunwale or rigger.
• You pull on the inboard handle; the oar pivots in the oarlock to move the boat forward.

In many boating and puzzle contexts, the answer to “where oars are attached” is simply: “in an oarlock (rowlock) on the side of the boat.”

TL;DR: The place where oars are attached is the oarlock (rowlock) on the side of the boat, often mounted on a rigger in racing shells.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.