Utrecht Ship of A. D. 800 -- "Hulk"

 

Views of the Ship called a "Hulk" The Hulk comes into use in the early seventh century: More about the "Hulk" in the blog entries to follow.

Top - Length of the ship, side view, one meter scale above the title;
Middle - Length of ship, top view;
Bottom - A is the bow of the ship in all three views. In the third row it is looking directly at the bow;
- B is the mid-ship cross-section (dash line from D to E);
- C is te Stern of the ship in all three views, In the third row it is looking directly at the stern;

There is no indication of a rudder so it may be assumed that the boat was steered with oars or paddles. This vessel was probably a river vessel. It's rounded no keel bottom and low freeboard would make it very dangerous to use at sea.

c.13 Genoese Two Masted, Three Deck, Cargo Ship

 

This drawing shows a modification of decks from a two decker to a three decker. The depth of hold was estimated at 14 feet, 3 Inches; of the first deck 7 feet, 4 inches; of the second deck 6 feet, 6 inches ; of the bulwark 4 feet, 1 inch; for a total depth of about 32 feet, 2 inches (9.79 Meters). The superstructures are taken from the bas-reliefs of two ships on the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Obviously the modification to three decks would have been advantageous to the economy of countries and ports using or benefitting from this type of ship by it's ability to carry more goods. The sailing rig has not changed because it had certainly proven itself as well as the other basic elements of this ship design.

Ship's Construction Diagram's

 

Top Picture -- Northern European Clinker-building with overlapping planks;

Bottom Picture -- Roman Mortise and Tenon construction.

These styles of ship construction are taken from archeological finds in the cultures mentioned above.

Strabo's Iberia

 

Roman Ballista

 

Senator Marcus Minucius Audens

 

Early Rome nd Neighboring Lands