HAVHINGSTEN has the Viking longship's characteristic long, narrow
and flexible clinker-built hull, which ensured both seaworthiness,
low weight and speed.
Wood used for
the original hull were oak and ash. For the model, I have used pear and
larch wood, which with its dense grains is more suitable for model work.
Keel, keelson,
fore and aft stems, side planks, stringers (woodwork that runs the
length of the ship to reinforce the structure) and frames connected
horizontally and vertically create a very strong and flexible hull.
The
overlapping side planks of HAVHINGSTEN were held together by 8,000 iron
nails, which together weighed 450 kg, and the gaps were caulked with
sheep's wool and tar.
The picture
gallery illustrates the construction of the hull.
Since all
woodwork, that was not painted, was tarred, I have treated it with a
water-based product to give it a dark colour. Originally, 600 liters of
tar were used on the HAVHINGSTEN.
The upper part
of the hull and the sail are painted in the same colours as the Viking
Ship Museum's HAVHINGSTEN, which is inspired by the colours used in the
Bayeux Tapestry.