Venetian Carrack or Cocha by woodrat - FINISHED - 1/64

[Louie da fly]

Yes, I've finally got moving after a long period of doing nothing (life getting in the way) and cut my first pieces of wood - see here.

 

I'm pretty happy with the result, though it's very early days yet.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

These  show the grapnel hung from the bowsprit and the figurehead similar to that of the Gribshunden wreck.

 

 

 

 

 

Dick

[cog]

Dick,

 

Just to get some things clear ... the anchor is attached to the hull with a chain - fixed length - and is dropped with a 'cable' so it can be hauled up again ...

[woodrat]

Dick,

 

Just to get some things clear ... the anchor is attached to the hull with a chain - fixed length - and is dropped with a 'cable' so it can be hauled up again ...

Thanks, Carl. I am speculating here. I am far from clear about this myself. The grapnel is only an auxiliary anchor. The main anchors are much larger. The grapnel may be used for manoeuvring the ship in harbour. I doubt it was used to grapple other ships. The grapnel chain is attached to a cable which is led into the forecastle, maybe through the hawse holes ( i dont believe this now. see posts below).The windlass could also be able to assist and the grapnel cable could be wound onto the tranversal bitt. What is the exact function of the transverse bitt and how is the main anchor cable attached to it? No detailed contemporary pictures show this detail although one picture shows what may be the anchor cable wound around the bitt. This is guesswork but I would appreciate all suggestions. Dick

Edited February 20, 2016 by woodrat

[cog]

I wouldn't expect a grapnel for manouvring, sooner a cable of some sort, as the grapnel and chain would appear rather heavy to me ... It does invite some deeper scrutiny ... and these queries do make the build quite a challenge!! I've been surprised by your, and Steven's enginuity ...

 

Cheers

[Louie da fly]

Nice work, Dick (as usual).

 

Landstro"m's book states that the grapnel was for grappling other ships in battle, but I don't know that this was based on anything other than supposition.

 

However, the Anthony Roll depiction of the Great Harry at the very least, shows her with not only a grapnel on a chain hanging on the bowsprit, but also double-hooked yard arms.  This was after all a time of transition from boarding and hand-to-hand fighting to longer distance combat with the big guns. So perhaps the grapnel is indeed for grappling other ships.

 

Steven

 

PS: Where did you get that lovely piece of chain?

Edited February 17, 2016 by Louie da fly

[woodrat]

Thanks Carl and Steven. I have gone back and looked through my picture bank and found some good detail on the disposition of the grapnel. 

 

 

 

 

 

All of these illustrations seem to show the chain being led into the floor of the forecastle, not the hawse holes (I will change this)

 

The nice chain, Steven, was a leftover from a kit that I trashed. I waste nothing.

 

Certainly hooks are seen on later warship carrack yard ends but are not seen on these early carracks.

I remain to be convinced that the grapnels were designed for offensive use against other ships except in extreme emergency.

 

I believe I now have the answer. Grapnels were a common form of anchor for dhows and other vessels of the Indian ocean and were used to assist mooring in tidal estuaries or tidal flats at low tide. They were also used to help haul the dhow out to deep water at high tide.  (Clifford Hawkins: The Dhow, an illustrated history of the dhow and its world). the dhows suspended the grapnels from the bowsprit and sometimes used chain instead of cable.I believe that this would have been the practice in the tidal lagoons such as Venice where the large anchors could not have been used (as seen in the Barbari map of Venice)  Cheers

Dick

[Louie da fly]

That makes a lot of sense, Dick. I think the "combat" idea is more wishful thinking than based on any sort of evidence.

 

Steven

[cog]

You'll certainly be right, however, I cannot see a grapnel as a reliable anchor considering the grapnel's weight, and minimal flukes which must hold the boat's weight and strain of a tugging sea ... the use for 'displacement' seems to me the more obvious one, or the mooring to another ship in harbour for that matter. At least the 'abuse' of the hawse holes has been determined ...

 

Cheers

 

Carl

[druxey]

For some reason I missed seeing this thread until this morning. Fascinating research and interpretation, Woodrat! You are doing a terrific job in these rather poorly charted waters.

[woodrat]

That is most kind in you, Druxey. It is very satisfying to try second-guessing the shades of long dead shipwrights.

Dick

[woodrat]

I have corrected the placement of the grapnel chain so it does not foul the hawse. I suppose the grapnel cable could still be led to the windlass if needed.

 

 

 

Dick

[Louie da fly]

That looks so good, Dick. She's really progressing well.

 

Steven

[NenadM]

[druxey]

Looking good!

[woodrat]

"Breaking News!" After a lot of fruitless searching of heraldry sites, I believe I have now identified the owner of the carrack in Trombetta's illustration. I believe the flags are those of Doge Cristoforo Moro (1390 – November 10, 1471) who was Doge from 1462 to 1471 which places him smack in the right era

 

This is his family crest which matches exactly the flags on the ship

the round things may be pomegranates

 

this is his portrait

Dick

Edited February 26, 2016 by woodrat

[Landrotten Highlander]

Looks like a pretty good match.  Are you goingto use these colours in your model?

[mtaylor]

Now that's a nice bit of research. 

[woodrat]

Looks like a pretty good match.  Are you goingto use these colours in your model?

Yes, sure am. Stripes seem to be blue and white. I will also include a lion of St. Mark on the quarterdeck.

Dick

[cog]

Nice bit of research ... strangely enough one can find quite a lot of info on these minor elements ... it makes the build come alive ...

[Louie da fly]

That's a really good discovery, Dick. Adds that extra special something and, I think, adds to the meaning of the model to know who it belonged to.

 

By the way, I notice there are two small copies of the coat of arms at the bottom of his portrait, as well.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Louie da fly

[woodrat]

here are some pics of the stern gallery. I have left some blinds down and some up (coloured blue).

Dick

 

 

[GLakie]

Very nice!  She looks great Dick! 

[woodrat]

Thanks, George

[CaptainSteve]

Amazing work, Dick !!

[cog]

Nice details on the stern cabin. I like the blue blinds

 

Cheers

[woodrat]

Nice details on the stern cabin. I like the blue blinds

 

 

Thanks Carl and Steve. The blinds are meant to hinge up out of the way. You can also see them on the Matthew reconstruction.

Dick

[mtaylor]

What a great looking stern.   The blinds add just the right touch.

[kees de mol]

She's a beautty!

[woodrat]

Thanks chaps. I still have some deck furniture to do before I can tackle the rigging. The perennial question remains, furled or not furled. . I am tending towards furled as it would be a good way to depict how they raised the bloody great ponderous mainyard by muscle power alone!

Dick