[WIP] Roman Trade Ship -- looking for ship building input

Rich O Brien

Nice ladder

xrok1

i'd hate to meet the guy who could wield those oars!

agamemnus

i'd hate to meet the guy who could wield those oars!

Lol. There's supposed to be some sort extension handle attached to the oars, but I'm not quite sure how it should be modeled.

Gaieus

Hi Agamamnus,

Nice project. I will try to collect some "wisdom" on the details although you are right - they are scattered and the ancient depictions do not provide sufficient info.

I know this will not be a big help but here is a nice "View from the sea" at Lucentum (currently Alicante, Spain) with a similar ship:
http://www.h2g2.hu/peregrinus/movie/movie_viewfromthesea.html

agamemnus

Cool, nice find! That ship is exquisitely modeled. I'm guessing the modelers for that ship were able to get a lot of info for it, and the scale seems good. It does help.

Roger

By central plank, I assume you mean keel. It would project outside because it helps the ship with directional stability (tracking in a straight line. On the inside it would project enough to attach the ribs.

One source of rigging info might be ancient coins, pottery, or mosaics.

A small pic can be found at: http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01723/wpe17.jpg

Best ship models has a set of plans for $21.00. See:
http://bestshipmodels.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=54&zenid=82053838878d782ce23be7c3b6430c08

As for oars, a vessel like that is essentially wind powered. What you show are steering oars and in any for I suspect they are a bear to operate. There should be a cross piece through the top to help twist them in the water. I suspect a couple hours spent googling will help you find a ton of information.

Roger

See steering oar carved in stone at:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Rudder_of_a_Roman_Boat_%28RG_Museum_Koeln%2C_Germany%29.JPG

This one seems to be mounted on the stern. Don't assume they were used in pairs they were often attached to only one side of the ship. Often the right side. That is where we get the name starboard "steerboard" as the custom was to have it on the right side.

Egyptions used double steerboards linked together.

Viking used only one on the right side.
http://www.aspects.net/~janus/Drakkar.gif

The mid point of the steerboard was often connected to the hull by a rope as no one man would have the strength to keep it in the water as the vessel picked up speed. In fact the length of the upper cross piece suggestit might have required multiple steermen in rough water.

Gaieus

@roger said:

This one seems to be mounted on the stern. Don't assume they were used in pairs they were often attached to only one side of the ship. Often the right side. That is where we get the name starboard "steerboard" as the custom was to have it on the right side.

[...]

Viking used only one on the right side.
http://www.aspects.net/~janus/Drakkar.gif

Indeed Antique (Mediterranean) ships hat the oars on both sides. The northern way (including earlier Saxon, Frisian then "later" Viking) way was the right side only - thus the traditional English term.

Roger

What do you think prompted the move from steerboard to the rudder? Better metal working skills that allowed a more secure attachment.

Gaieus

Yes but that was about a millennium later.