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I know... even to mention this word here is likely to raise a bunch of howls like "how could you even consider..." etc.. However, for what it's worth, I want to ask whether anyone has tried to use...

I can't find it Eric, but it was on YT, named Repairs to Harald Harfagre... I too heard about it coming to the West Coast...
Putting in keelbolts was a major thing, and on mine I'm thinking about...

I can't find the link, but its title was Repairs to Harald Harfagre. I'm curious about the comment that a savvy captain wouldn't go across the Atlantic in a ship like Harfagre, but would have chosen...

Yesterday I found a new video about the Harald, which showed some of the repairs that were done to her during her first season.
What struck me particularly was that they installed keelbolts through...

Thanks all! Great picture Nick! I've seen lots of Gokstad pictures, even taken some myself, but never that close-up detail! Amazing workmanship!
Tom

I'm curious as to how the planks on the Gokstad (or other Viking ships for that matter) are joined at the hood ends: did they use gains? It sure looks like it in the pictures I've seen...
Thanks...

I wonder if someone can help me figure out how much power I would need to drive my 33' longship! I calculated her dry weight at 1200 pounds so wet with 10 people on board, more like 3000. I'm leaning...

Wow! Amazingly detailed analysis, which I think I can follow if I really have the patience... To a practical matter: I'm building a 33' Viking longship, beam 7', displacement loaded with 10 people,...

VM is pretty, similar to mine, but mine is following the original Gokstad, except for the upsweeping planks at the ends, which I couldn't possibly do without access to a forest with limbs of the...

Pretty boat, love the way she sails... I hope mine will do as well! Is the one under construction similar to the one that sails? Surely not one and the same?

You and I have had discussions...

"Viking" you say... I suppose I shouldn't take umbrage because this is now and that was then, but the plans show 15 frames and I think steam-bent white oak will work just fine, with substantial...

Thanks for that emf! I was there 2 years ago where the canal starts on the western side, so appealing! I also plan on doing videos, perhaps I can get a bunch of subscribers!
Cheers
Tom

Hey Eric!
Thanks for your message! Yes, on Munin they did spile her, don't know whether they took patterns off those battens. BTW my stock starts as 2x6 Port Orford 12' planks that I bought 2...

Nick, just saw your last response: there are 9 temporary moulds, to be replaced by 15 frames, steam-bent oak. Keel is oak and planks/deck are Port Orford Cedar.
FYI, I'm building her pretty much on...

Thanks to all of you for your advice! I worked out a method based on what Nick said, put up the first 6-foot piece at the stern, keeping it to the marks I have made on the frames for the location of...

I'm building a 32' Viking ship, and have put in 7 of 14 planks, now starting to come off the bilge and into the topsides. Planks range in width from 3" to 5 3/8". My question is about best method...

I haven't found specs on your woods but POC is quite a bit tougher than our Western Red Cedar and Redwood, but not quite as strong as Douglas Fir, which is what we build houses of, and what Munin was...

True, I should have stated all the parameters. Anything further to add?

Thanks again,

Tom

Thanks George! Valuable insights! I'll research the subject and see what I find. Maybe Nick has something to say about it...

I've been thinking about what some of you have commented on the...

Surprisingly, yes! I used a thin board as a template, cut it with a penknife to fit, and found that the upper edge is pretty much straight, and the inside edge
was tricky but finally laid in quite...

Hi Ned,
Nice boat! She's carvel-planked, so I don't know if that would require more rivets than a lapstrake? I replied yesterday to George and Nick, that, based on what Nick said, 5" spacing...

Tack ska du ha! Thanks PM, good advice...

God Jul!

Tom

I have rosehead rivets, where the shank is 2mm and the head 6mm, worry that the head is too small for use with softwood (Port Orford Cedar, using 3/4" planks). Is there a concern that the heads may...

Hi,

I'm in the finishing stages of a Whitehall, Dave Gentry's Shenandoah, which I have covered with nylon and Corey's Goop. I'm finding the finish that has resulted not satisfactory (my fault,...

I'm building a 32' version of the Gokstad Ship, and started with a 2x10 white-oak keel, scarfed joints, adding a 3/4x3.5" oak keelson, followed by a second 3/4x3.5" oak piece on top of the keelson,...

Thanks Gilbert! I will be using it for day trips, keeping it out of the water. I have had good advice on the forum to glass inside and out, so that's
what I will do.
Thanks again,

Tom

Thanks Oldad... I appreciate your input!

Tom

Thanks Denise, great video! I love lapstrake but really want to have a go at strip building, love how they look.
Tom

of course!

thanks

Tom

Excellent! Thanks again!
Tom

Thanks for your good advice Jim!

Thanks for your advice!
Tom

Thanks, not having had one, I was wondering what the options were... What weight of glass is normal? I have noted 4oz and 6oz available, and also would you glass inside and out? Would outside only...

I'm thinking of building a whitehall, 16', of 1" x 1/4" cove-and-bead redwood, wondering about whether it's possible to NOT glass it. Obviously strength and scratch-resistance would be way less, but...

Thanks Lagspiller!

I've noted that the shrouds (stays) on various Norse boats are fastened at different points on the frame, sometimes even going through one of the upper planks. The Gokstad ship itself does not have...

When planking lapstrake boats, there is a choice of whether the ribs should be notched to fit the entire width of the plank or not. Norse typically cut the notches, but I have seen cases where this...

I'm trying to figure out how to cut gains on planks that are cut to shape: I am looking for a router bit that will cut a 1" rabbet tapering
from 0 to 3/8". I haven't found a router bit with a...

PS: I notice that when I write a longer post sometimes my screen goes totally white, and when I reload it it comes back with the reply box empty (I took the precaution of copying what I wrote before...

Design! Well, you guys have opened another can of worms, and I have to admit I simply scaled the plans I have to suit. Munin had a beam of about 8 feet, as I remember, and was 42' long. She was...

Hi Rumars,
thank you for your comments, interesting as always. I'm using British Museum plans, scaled the drawings to suit the size I'm interested in. I understand the question regarding scale...

Thanks Rumars! I really enjoy each response on this blog, such interesting information and different points of view. Yes to an engine, considering an inboard (electric??) or an outboard (not so...

Interesting about the floors! I'll have to look at my plans for the details on that, hadn't gone to that yet... yes, on the rigging there is no need to overtension the stays, as it's only a matter...

Point taken! I will have small decks at both ends, but will have sturdy knees amidships, where the stays come down, plus regular knees at the main stations. That will provide strength to the sides....

Thanks Nick, interesting video! Now I have to think all structures have to be able to flex to some extent, even skyscrapers have built-in ability to flex to strong winds.
But I don't think this is...

Wow, interesting! Thanks, Brian for your comments. What kind of boat was it you had? You said carvel-built, so was it must have been the carvel joints that opened up... Were the planks caulked or...

Thanks, Haabet. Interesting idea. I think, however, that the keel needs to be quite strong in any case, and that the planking should be strong also, to contribute to
the structural rigidity of the...

Thanks Mats... Of course, every boat is a compromise on multiple aspects: the perfect boat would be long and narrow, weigh nothing, but would not be able to carry much sail let alone people. So we...

Mats, since you went to great lengths to find that quote, it must be that you are in agreement with the idea that a flexible boat is a fast boat. It's interesting, but I wonder what your reasons...

I think it's clear the Oseberg was a pleasure ship, being so low to the water and so highly-decorated.

The idea of flexibility keeps coming up, so it must be long-entrenched. As I said before, I...