Hasholme Logboat - Designing The Boat

Designing The Boat

Based on ethnographic evidence, it is assumed that this kind of log could be cut by use of some primitive stone or iron tools, but mostly by use of controlled fire. After the log was cut, it was transported (rolled or moved on other wood rollers) to the construction site. At the site, work generally had to start from the bottom of the hull and followed by shaping hull sides.

Before cutting a tree, the builder had to asses the log, its shape, length, areas of damage, the extent of heart rot, as well as ways to work the bow and stern. A major requirement while working with such an enormous log must have been to minimize the number of times the log had to be turn over. The first stage, therefore, would be to flat the external bottom and slightly upturn the bow and stern, shape the hull sides, as well as to bore holes (thickness gauges) in bottom. However, in case of Hasholme boat, those gauges were installed right at the turn of the bilge. The log would then be rolled over and placed on some sort of timbers so the access to the bottom would be still possible. The next stage would be to work the upper section of the log to produce a sheerline and then work the inside until thickness gauges were reached. Because of the presence of an extensive rot, hollowing was probably done by tools rather than fire. The thickness of the sides would be achieved by eye or by sound, simply by tapping the log. For the bottom, however, the holes left after thickness gauges were later plugged by tightly fitted and dried oak tree-nails to ensure maximum watertightness upon wood expansion. The log would then be finished internally, with all the rabbets for fitting bow timbers, transom, and washstrakes, and holes along the sheerline cut. As the final step, bow and stern timbers, which are not integrated with the rest of the hull, would be caulked with moss and the whole structure made watertight.

It is interesting to notice that for many measurements natural units, such as thumb, palm, foot, were used. For example, the thickness gauges were approximately one thumb in diameter, and the holes near the sheer approximately two thumbs.

The overall time to build Hasholme logboat would directly depend on the number of men involved. Based on other ethnographic evidence it was estimated that the total time would roughly a month. Even though, building a log-boat is always a communal effort, the complexity of bow and stern sections suggest that master boatbuilder with specialized knowledge had to be designated.

There is no any evidence suggesting that this boat had ever been fitted with a mast or sail of some sort. In case of Hasholme logboat, major means of propulsion were either paddles or long poles, while steering was likely done by an oar. Judging from the size of the boat, there were probably nine pairs of paddlers, 18 men total, and two steersmen. Paddlers would most likely paddle from the standing position, while steersmen would stand on the stern platform. With this arrangement, the major function of the boat would be to display power and high status of the group to their neighbors. The other function of the boat could be to simply transport cargo, for instance iron ore, rocks, timber, grain, or meat, among others, with maximum load even up to 9,000 kg (20,000 lb). In this case, different arrangements and combinations of paddlers to amount cargo would be possible.