Let the countdown begin...

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Let the countdown begin...

Martin and Ture work on producing the oarlocks. No traces of the original oarlocks were found during the excavation of the Gislinge Boat, so the boatbuilders have been trawling other archaeological ship and boat finds, to find a suitable model that they could use. They settled on an example found during the excavation of the medieval harbour at Bryggen in Norway.

2015-10-27

Three days to go to the launch on Saturday. See how the work is progressing...

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Created by Tríona Sørensen

The breasthook in the after stem of the Gislinge Boat. One of the original breasthooks survived the many centuries that the Gislinge Boat spent buried under layers of sand and silt, and proved to be an elegant piece of craftsmanship, complete with a decorative profile around its inner edge.

Martin uses an axe to shape one of the oarlocks for the Gislinge Boat.

Niels adds the final touches to the Gislinge Boat’s rudder. No rudder was found during the excavation, so again, the boatbuilders have looked to other equivalent boat finds for inspiration.

Niels begins fitting the rudder to the hull, a delicate business that requires much concentration and fine-tuning.

Weaver Anna Nørgård and ropemaker Carsten Hvid take stock of the finished sail for the Gislinge Boat. The sail is made from long panels, which are sewn together, rather than being made from one continuous piece of sailcloth. The seams between the panels add extra stability and strength to the sail. A great deal of close co-operation is required between the sailmaker and the ropemaker: Carsten has produced bolt rope, which is sewn around the edges of the sail, and various other short ropes such as the robands and reef ties, which must also be attached to the sail.

Weaver Anna carries the finished sail for the Gislinge Boat.

Martin works on shaping the mast for the Gislinge Boat.

Niels using a bow drill to bore the holes for the final rivets. The sharp-eyed among you will also have noticed the splash of colour on the inside of the Gislinge Boat’s hull. During conservation of the original timbers found during the excavation, small traces of paint were found on the third strake of the hull. The boatbuilders have therefore chosen to use a paint made from linseed oil mixed with yellow ochre, one of the most commonly available colours at the time the Gislinge Boat was built.

Niels hammering home the iron rivets that hold the rudder fittings in place.