The correct answer is A) The steering oar in a lifeboat is longer than the others and should be lashed to the stern. The steering oar is designed to be longer than the other oars in the lifeboat. This allows the person at the stern to exert more leverage and control over the direction of the boat. It is important that the steering oar be lashed or secured to the stern of the lifeboat so that it remains in place and can be used effectively to steer the boat. The other answer choices are incorrect - B) is wrong because the steering oar is longer, not shorter, than the others. C) is incorrect because the forward person does not use the steering oar to direct the bow, the person at the stern uses the longer steering oar. D) is wrong because the steering oar is not used as the stroke oar.