woodrat

The earliest vessels which have yet been excavated in Scandinavia and Northern Europe are not the Viking sailing ships we all know but are rowed vessels without the capacity to sail. Apart from small paddled boats known from grave burials, the earliest major excavated vessel is the Hjortspring vessel which dates from the 4th century BCE and is a sewn vessel propelled by paddles and having a keel plank. The use of sail is thought to have occurred late in this region and the reasons for this late adoption are far from clear. The earliest accepted archaeological evidence for sail in Scandinavia and northern Europe comes from picture stones dated to the 6th century CE at the earliest. The earliest excavated sailing ship is the well known and frequently modelled Oseberg vessel of the early 9th century CE. Before the Viking era, large vessels for transport of men or goods seem to have been rowed vessels lacking a true keel and a mast. It is not till the Kvalsund boat, a rowed vessel of the late 8th century, was found do we see a true keel and it is from this vessel that the viking age is said to begin. The famous longships of the viking age were often ship burials but in the pre-viking era the boat finds are sometimes found to be bog sacrifices. These vessels were deliberately sunk or broken up in bogs together with weapons and armour similarly broken, which suggests a deliberate sacrifice to a beneficent god to celebrate a victory or as part of religious rites. No human remains have been found with the vessels. The most important bog finds were the Nydam boats. These were excavated in 1863 and, of the three vessels found, only one has been preserved. This is the Nydam B boat, a rowed vessel 23 metres in length with only a keel plank and no mast step. There were 15 thwarts and probably 28 or 30 rowers. A quarter rudder was found with the boat. The boat was constructed from oak and a large part of the vessel has been preserved. There are similarities of Nydam B with the Sutton Hoo saxon ship burial and suggestion has been made that the Nydam B boat may have been the type of vessel that the Frisians, Saxons and Jutes used to reach southern England. However, the Nydam boat is built for coastal or riverine travel and would have had great difficulty with the open ocean so exactly how this crossing was made remains unclear. The lack of a true keel and the construction of the hull make it likely that hogging of the hull would have been a problem. Found in association with Nydam B were many staves and wooden devices which have been interpreted (Akerlund 1963) as being remnant of the mechanism of a hogging truss. This has been questioned by other authorities and remains a possibility. I plan to attempt a model of the Nydam B boat at 1:20 scale using the dimensions estimated by Akerlund who has allowed for 14% wood shrinkage over the century since excavation. I am still considering whether to include the hogging truss in the reconstruction. I cannot start yet as I am awaiting receipt of a publication from Germany on the boat Cheers Dick

Yes, Mark. As this vessel is of historical importance to Western Australia, having claimed same for Louis XV in 1772, I thought I should use local timber. I happened to have a sink cut-out made from kiln dried jarrah. As you state, jarrah is extremely hard and durable and cannot be machined without good equipment e.g. table saw, bandsaw, thickness sander etc. I have used jarrah on previous models (venetian round ship, venetian carrack, Yenikapi 12) and found that it machines beautifully. It is the perfect framing wood. When oiled it is initialy quite red but rapidly darkens to the colour of old oak. But beware, do not work this wood (or any wood for that matter) without good dust extraction and masks. Jarrah dust is very fine and irritative. Also it is best to use kiln dried jarrah as old floorboards and roof timbers are brittle and too splintery to use. Jarrah is getting more and more valued in WA and people are less inclined to burn it in their stoves. I dont know how available it is in UK Europe or North America. As an indication of how hard this wood is, it was used during the nineteenth century in english and australian cities in the form of blocks as an alternative to cobblestones as it was so durable and deadened the sound of carriage wheels. Zackly, Steven. Cheers Dick

Thanks for all the likes. This latest starts the deck furniture, in this case the manger or at least half of it. This occupies the space aft of the hawse holes and forward of the bowsprit step. The manger consists of a space contained by removable planks which contains and drains any water entering through the hawse holes. It is also a convenient place to house animals, hence the name. It probably won't be seen on completion of the model but what the heck, I know it's there! Cheers Dick

Happy New Year All! Further slow progress on the Fat Belly. The hanging knees are installed in quarterdeck and forecastle. Note that some are obliquely placed to avoid gunports and I believe are called dagger knees. All deck beams remain removable so I can complete deck furniture and install the elm-tree pumps etc. The main double capstan has been made. Cheers Dick

This is the starboard quarter gallery and stern lights . I have made the quarter gallery lights detachable to show the seat-of-ease. I will be very happy to move on to something a lot less fiddly. Cheers Dick

As you are intending to use Carpaccio as a guide, I wonder if you intend to include a transversal through bitt and a great arch in your reconstruction ? Dick

Progess on the decoration of the transom and quarter gallery. I have deviated from the Ancre plans in this instance. Cheers Dick

Great project! The illustration from the illuminated manuscript seems to show a round tuck to the stern (which was not preserved in the wreck). I think it would be valid to do a round tuck but this is your decision, guided by the excavators to some extent. Cheers Dick

One of the issues with quarter rudders is the tendency of the rudder to slide laterally away from the hull. To counter this , some sort of restraint is required either using wood guides or buttresses or with extra tackle. The following photos show one method (Yenikapi 12 build) the last picture in the background shows the way the nordics controlled the lateral movement with a withy tether. Cheers Dick

Perchance a hulc?😎 Dick

Now for a less savoury part of the ship. "Those vulgar tubes", the seats of ease, at least for the ships officers in the quarter galleries. All the rest of the hoi polloi had to use the heads in the bow. Not much room in the quarter gallery and not much light, either. A bit stygian. The false windows and gingerbread work goes on top of this. I dont know if there was any flushing arrangement on this smaller ships as there was on larger and later ships. Maybe a servant with a bucket and a brush?🤢 Cheers Dick

The hull in its present state. Trenailing is the next step which is always daunting till you get started, I suppose. playing around with lighting to show the red of the jarrah Dick

Welcome, Dave. An excellent depiction of a latin caravel with authentic detail. Which plans did you use? Could you do a build log step by step for us? Cheers Dick

Progress on the transom

Sliding anchors go way back. This one (Which I copied for Yenikapi 12) was found on the Yassi Ada wreck from the seventh century. But Permanent stock would be fine too. Dick