However in the sea or in most lakes, the crew will get wet feet and legs, as they jump out, which is the better than tipping the crew completely in by accident necessitating the boat to be bailed out. The water comes up to the knees, so that the crew often wear old shoes to protect their feet and take their trousers off to keep them dry for use on shore. On the boat itself, wet leather shoes are a menace. The saturated leather and damp timber cause the crews feet to slip, so some opt to remove their shoes for better grip.
In the photograph at top, the boat seems to be very cramped, but this is due to some foreshortening in the photograph. Even at 19 feet in length (5.8 meters), four people are not particularly crowded, however, the boat is close to the waterline, and in choppy conditions, you would not want anyone else aboard. In very calm conditions, you can get 6 or 7 people aboard depending upon their total weight and how passive they all are. The Faering takes six men to lift it clear of the water with a struggle, although it can be pulled along it's keel by 4 far more easily. It's estimated weight is 200 kilos, although it has never been accurately weighed. This brings into question the practicality of portage. This is the practice of carrying the boat from one river to a neighbouring one to continue your journey. For economy's sake, and the success of the venture, the crew would be as small as was possible, maximising the volume of goods carried. In this case, a three man mission would be apt. However, three is too small to move the boat and the cargo. This would suggest that the famous Viking traders on the Russian river systems may have had to employ locals to assist with either horse, ox or man power to carry the goods, or pull the boat. All adding expense to the trip, and adding cost to the goods.
In the meantime, the newly finished warship is eased from her berth. After the sea trials to determine that the ship is sea worthy, and fit for her duties, the ship is taken on her maiden voyage. Rowing out into the Fjord, the men are prepared for a long sea voyage. They've tied their shields along the side, partly for show and partly for some protection from the driving sea-spray. They will bring them in when the sail is raised, stowing them out of the way below deck. All iron swords, mail axes and things would be in sealed and greased barrels below deck to try to stop them from rusting in the salt air. They are wearing heavy clothes and cloaks - it's always cold at sea.
Nearing the end of the sheltered fjord and close to the open sea, it's time to put away some of the oars and haul the mast up. This is a hard and fairly dangerous job. If a wave, especially one coming in broadside to the ship and striking it at the wrong moment, it could be disastrous. The whole ship is out of balance. Although most of the crew is needed to haul up the mast, some must carry on rowing to keep the ship facing in the correct direction into wind. When the mast is up, the rest of the crew get the oars out to drive the ship out of the Fjord and into the sea proper. When a clear wind is felt, the sail is hoisted and the ship begins to leave the fjord.
Soon, they meet a cargo ship coming home to their village and they shout to the sailors to find out what the weather is like and how their luck has been. You can see how different the cargo ship is from the newly built raider. It is far rounder and deeper in section to contain cargo and only 50 - 60 feet long (17 - 20 meters). The oars are hardly ever used, with the ship being propelled by just the sail and the skill of the sailors. As the Knarr slips into it's home port, some members of the crew ready the anchor, which is a 'gash' replacement for the one it normally carries. The very expensive large iron anchor was lost off Spain, and the crew set to work to make the crude but effective one they now plan to drop in the fjord.
The crew of the Knarr is smaller, however, they will have travelled much further and longer than the new raider ever will, as the trader is a genuine ocean going ship whilst the raider is designed primarily for coastal work, and will head for port as soon as conditions get too bad. The tall sides of the trader's hull make this a very sea worthy ship that 'bobs' on the surface rather than cutting through the sea.
1
2
3
4
5
johansite.com
7 tahun yang lalu