Bjørnefjord

Bjørnefjord

Oselver tolværing from Os, Norway, 1998

The keel, stem and stern of this Oselver tolværing (river Os 12-oar boat) were built of oak while the rest of the boat was made of pine. It was designed especially for sailing with parties of schoolchildren on Roskilde Fjord.

The boatbuilders had specifically considered the fact that the boat should be well suited to beating on the generally quite calm fjord. As shown in the cross-section drawing, the lowest strake, the garboards, have a more raised angle than those on Bjørnefjord's sister-boat, Oselven.

Bjørnefjord is also larger than most Oselver boats, so that a whole class of schoolchildren can sail together. These days, the smaller Oselver boats are equipped with spritsails, so it was also necessary to adapt a square sail in keeping with earlier traditions.