The shark nearly sank the boat before Schleisser killed it with a broken oar. They had no central rudders but were instead steered using an oar on one side. Ramie is also occasionally used in the construction of high performance rowing oar shafts. There were usually five or six rowers on each oar. Other fittings include a broad steering oar, iron anchor, gangplank, and a bailer. Fleets thereby became less dependent on rowers with a lifetime of experience at the oar. Every man who could ply an oar pulled up to give Mr Gladstone a cheer. The steering oar was operated by one man. The term is also sometimes used for the blade of an oar. The strength of the steering oar lay in its combination of effectiveness, adaptability and simpleness. The steerer manipulates a long (typically 9-feet) straight oar, called a steering oar. This came to replace the less efficient steering oar. A large metal clip attaches to the oar and clips onto the pin. A short oar makes quick but short strokes possible. The maximum practical number of oar banks a ship could have was three.