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Compare reconstructed Tuna of Badelunda boat with other boats

Among other other boats of comparable design one can mention Merkijärvi find (see also reference in the article) in Finland -- a boat with expanded aspen bottom and two strakes on each sides, sewn with spruce roots. She had hollowed stem blocks of quite a similar design, but no continuous gunwale, only oarlock pieces sewn to the edge of upper strake. The find was (unreliably) dated to 15th century. Another find is Björke boat in Sweden, Gästrikland, she had expanded lime wood bottom, and one strake on each side, nailed with iron rivets. Stem blocks were also hollow, but much thinner and less developed. No continuous gunwale again, only oarlocks. Dated as ancient as 4th century.

comparison One can see the similarity between the above charts: first of Gokstad færing strakes, second of Tuna boat replica strake and bottom part projection. Scale is equal for both charts.

There was a færing boat found in Gokstad, (accordingly to the accepted dating, she must have been built some 50 years later then Tuna boat), it had the same length, same number of ribs (five), and similar position of rowing bunks -- over 2nd and 3rd ribs. Though building technique of Gokstad færing is entirely different, -- a classic oak clinker boat with hollowed stems, she had a very peculiar shape of the strakes (on the picture above). First strake was the widest (~40cm), which, considering that first strake in a boat is the most difficult one to bend and twist into shape, looks rather a strange solution. Usually in most modern boats first strake is one of the narrowest, and it is bent tightest. Also, it is easier to have a more simple strake profiles, sort of straight, narrowing toward hood ends, as most modern boats have. So peculiar profiles of Gokstad færing strakes are probably dictated by some tradition, rather then practical use; could it be, that such a tradition started as an imitation of expanded bottom in a clinker technique? At least, these profiles look more logical for an expanded dugout with additional strakes, then for a clinker boat.

tuna small gokstad
One can also see the lines and shape similarity between the two boats.


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