Nydam Boat, Passenger vessel; Boat

Scale: 1:24. A model of a boat discovered in marshland at Nydam, Schleswig, Denmark in 1863. The model is made entirely in wood with metal fittings. The hull is clinker built and the overlapping planks are fastened with metal pins. The hull shape is double-ended and steeply raked at the bow and stern with curving stem and stern posts. The model is shallow draft with a wide keel. There are 14 thwarts all of which are removable. There are 19 v-shaped frames which are lashed to carved cleats on the interior surface of the planks. There is provision for a mast in the bottom of the boat amidships. Between the thwarts, on the port and starboard strakes, there is provision for 28 oars. The model is equipped with a steering oar rigged to the starboard quarter, 27 oars of varying lengths, and three poles, one shorter than the other two.

The orginal oak vessel (on display in Gottorf Castle, Schleswig, Germany) has been dendrochronologically dated to 310-320 AD and is the oldest known example of a clinker built boat.

Object Details

ID: AAE0177
Collection: Ship models
Type: Full hull model; Plank-on-frame
Display location: Display - Sea Things Gallery
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Unknown
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Close

Your Request

If an item is shown as “offsite”, please allow eight days for your order to be processed. For further information, please contact Archive staff:

Email:
Tel: (during Library opening hours)

Click “Continue” below to continue processing your order with the Library team.

Continue