Wooden Fishing Boats - From Traditional Marsh Pirogues To Wide-Bottomed Drift Boats
So you've inherited that somewhat dubious old wooden fishing boat from your grandpa! You're feeling proud to be the one to carry on the family fishing tradition, but you're also experiencing just a little trepidation at the though of setting out on the wide open expanses of the lake this spring on a boat that has clearly seen better days...
Well, if your newly acquired old wooden fishing boat is looking a little worse for wear, you might do well to remember that wooden boat owners generally accept the fact these kind of boats were not built to last forever.
In fact, some were probably built with the intention that they would be replaced within five or ten years, and not kept going lovingly for decades by well-intentioned descendents of the original owner.
Constant maintenance is probably the key concept here, and you will need to do some serious checking out of the boat's structure before setting out to haul in those prize catches.
Of course, nowadays - with newer wood-based, penetrating epoxy - dry rot has become much less of a problem, but you will still have to keep up the work to keep your boat in shape for the fishing waters.
Apart from the gleaming, grand old dames of yesteryear, contemporary wooden fishing boats are still being built, and you may be surprised at the workmanship and variety available.
You may want to have a look at the beautifully crafted boats such as wide-bottomed drift boats, or the graceful curves of a special viking-type rowing-and-fishing boat.
Some wooden fishing boat builders specialize in traditional Louisiana marsh pirogues and rowing skiffs, and for these you will even be able to find building plans should you be tempted to make a project out of it!
If you just want to have the experience of fishing from a wooden boat on your next fishing trip, you can head out to Ontario, where some fishing resorts have a special wooden fishing boat supplier building them to order.
These beautiful spacious, quiet boats are hand built out of cedar and oak, and equipped with swivel seats, a fishfinder, and all the necessary emergency equipment to make your trip an unforgettable experience.
Back to that old lady grandpa used for his outings on the lake: It may be well worth remembering the saying: "Nothing works on an old boat but the owner"...
07.05.2008.
Yacht Charter in Croatia
Croatia is situated on the Adriatic Sea, opposite Italy, in the Northern Mediterranean. With a history going back over a thousand years, it first appeared on the political map of Europe in 1992, following the break up of Yugoslavia after a bloody civil war.
Weather - The climate is typical of the Mediterranean and provides for pleasant holidays throughout the year. The best season for sailing in Croatia is early summer with good winds in May and June mainly from the S/SE. Mornings tend to be calm with the wind increasing later in the afternoon to around 15 - 20 knots. The months of July and August see calmer conditions which is OK for those who don't mind motoring. Summer temperatures average between 26 to 30°C and the sea temperature in summer is about 25oC.
Sailing Area - Starting in the north
The Brioni Islands - Formally the summer residence of President Tito, these islands were closed to the general public. Today they are open but the facilities are a bit rundown, as little money was spent on their upkeep following the death of the President. The group of islands consists of 2 larger ones and 12 smaller ones. They were given National Park status in 1983. The largest island is Veli Brijun, just is 2km from the coast. It is very green being covered with vegetation.
Cres & Losinj islands - Covering nearly 400 square km, Cres is the second largest island in the Adriatic. It is grouped with Losinj and another 28 smaller islands. The harbour of Mali Losinj is said to be the most beautiful in the entire Adriatic. Cikat bay, which is well known for its beach and good windsurfing, is the tourist centre. While the town of Veli Losinj is much quieter. Cres Town is also popular and is reminiscent of an Italian village due to the fact that for several centuries it was ruled by Venice. The island of Susak is well worth a visit. The population speak their own dialect, which is not easily understood by other Croats. And the women often dress in a colourful costume, a short, multicoloured dress, red leggings and a white blouse.
Krk is the largest island in the Adriatic, covering 405.78 square km, and is also one of the most populous islands.. It is very busy with tourists being by bridge to the mainland. It is not the most beautiful or the greenest of the islands. The main towns are Baska, Krk town itself, Malinska, Omisalj, Punat and Vrbnik. Krk Town is famous for the Cathedral of St. Mary.
Rab island is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic and probably one of the most magical. It is has beautiful sandy beaches and is covered with pine forests. Rab Town, the main resort, is full of medieval buildings, built under Venetian rule in the 13th century. The old town walls are still visible in some places.
Pag is the second longest island in the Adriatic. It has little in the way of vegetation due to strong wind of Bora. In spite of this Pag has a lot of charm. It is well known for its lace making and the Pag Town is beautifully preserved.
Primosten, on the coast, is one of the most popular resorts on the Adriatic coast and boasts the best of Croatia from yesterday, stroll the narrow, cobbled streets of the old town centre set on a small, hilly peninsula and today, the Hacienda all night disco is just a 10 minute taxi away.
The Kornati islands - 140 islands make up this archipelago and it covers an area 300 square km. The majority of the area is a National Park, designated so because of it's numerous coves and crystal clear blue waters. It was described by astronauts as having the bluest water on earth seen from space .It is truly beautiful. George Bernard Shaw said of the island group "On the last day of Creation God desired to crown His work, and thus created the Kornati islands out of tears, stars and breath." Most of the area belongs to the people of Murter island who come to look after the olive groves, vineyards and orchards. They in stay cottages during the agricultural season but there is no permanent population. Hramina is a private marina on Murter Island with good facilities including a choice of restaurants.
Dugi Otok is home to the large, beautiful bay at Telescica. The small fishing town of Sali here is famous for summer events celebrating local folklore with a fun donkey race and a procession of illuminated boats. Brbinj higher up on Dugi Otok is a quiet, sheltered stop surrounded by pine woods and olive groves.
The city of Split is a UNESCO world heritage site famous for the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian.
Visit Skradin on the mainland and venture up-river to the famous waterfalls at Krka.
Brac is the largest island in Central Dalmatia and the third largest in the Adriatic. It is also one of the sunniest with 2,700 hours per year. Brac is renowned for its agricultural products, figs, olive oil, nectarines, wine and other fruits. However the main export is the famous Brac stone from which many buildings in the world have been constructed, including the home to the presidents of the United States of America, The White House in Washington DC Bol is said to have the most beautiful beach in the Adriatic. Other resorts include the Golden Horn (Zlatni Rat), Milna, Sumartin, Supetar and Sutivan.
Hvar is the fourth largest island in the Adriatic and is even sunnier than Brac. There is however enough rain to keep the island green and to maintain the beautiful fields of lavender, marjoram, rosemary, sage and thyme together with the vineyards. In the spring Hvar smells like a herbalist shop. The lavender oil is the island's major export. The main resorts are Hvar Town, Jelsa, Stari Grad, Sucuraj and Vrboska. Hvar boasts the country's oldest public theatre dating from 1612.
Vis - At 24 miles from the mainland this is the most westerly of the larger Croatian islands. Vis is the oldest established town in Dalmatia founded in 397 BC. The island was major base for British troops during World War II. After 1945 it was closed to the public the Yugoslav military and reopened in 1990. Some of Croatia's finest wines are produced there, such as Plavac and Vugava. The two main towns are Vis Town and Komiza. Vis is especially peaceful and relaxing.
Bisevo is home to the famous Blue Caves and this is the perfect snorkelling spot
Korcula is known for its dense forest. Marco Polo, the famous adventurer, was born on Korcula, and his house still there. Korcula known as "Little Dubrovnik", Vela Luka and Lumbarda are the main resorts.
On the mainland, Ston, is one of the most beautiful fortified towns you are ever likely to see. It is famous for its many cultural monuments and impressive defensive walls. The local restaurants serve delicious dishes of oyster and other fresh seafood. Spend the afternoon on it's sandy beach lined with olive trees.
Mljet is 23 miles west of Dubrovnik and is the southern most of the larger islands. The western half of the island is a National Park and over two-thirds of the island is forested with. According to legend, Odysseus fell in love with the island and stayed there for seven years. You will find numerous good anchorages and sandy beaches on the southern coast, the best of which is Saplunara
The Elafit islands - Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan - In ancient times these islands were home to a large deer population and take their name from the Greek word elafos, meaning deer. There are in fact six islands in the group and it is reputed the most skilful mariners came from here. Once again the islands are very beautiful and are a must visit. Lopud is little more than two hills which are connected by a beautiful valley. Follow the footpath through to the bay called Sunj, a round white sand beach perfect for a swim.
Dubrovnik is an immaculately preserved 13th century fortified city. Ancient walls surround the old town enclosing a fascinating mix of Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architecture. Tall ramparts and towering spires rise dramatically from splendid squares packed with colourful bars, markets and restaurants. The whole city is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Food and Wine - Croatian cooking is typically Mediterranean with fish, shellfish, fresh vegetables and olive oil taking centre stage. Varieties of fish include dog's tooth, gilthead, grouper, mackerel, sardines and sea bass. You will find cuttlefish, octopus and squid, lobsters, mussels, oysters and shrimps. These are presented grilled or in stews and risottos. The local smoked ham is very good. Lamb is also highly regarded, especially baked on an open fire. There are some interesting local dishes, some found on individual islands, to be sought out or avoided. Take Vitalec as an example - lamb's offal wrapped in lamb gut and spike-roasted, not everbodys idea of culinary heaven. Regions with a plentiful supply of fresh water, the Neretva valley, Trilj and the Cetina basin, are well for their frog, eel and river crab dishes. Pag and Dubrovnik produce high quality sheep's cheese. Pag's is known as Paski-Sir, a hard, distinctively flavoured cheese. The unique flavour comes from the method of rubbing the cheese with olive oil and ash before leaving it to mature; in addition, the sheep eat a diet that includes many wild herbs such as sage. Dalmatian desserts are good too. The most usual ingredients include almonds, eggs, honey, local fruit, dried figs and raisins. Try Orehnjaca, a sweet bread with walnuts or poppy seeds. Palacinke are pancakes usually served with jam or chocolate. Dalmatian wines have been regarded highly since ancient times. Famous wines include Babic from Primosten, Dingac and Postup from the Peljesac Peninsula and Plancic from the island of Hvar. There are also good local brandies and liqueurs
04.05.2008.
Tall Ships
Ships, and other sea vessels have been an integral part of human civilization since time immemorial. Shipbuilding as an art, was mastered by the British, and was the main reason why they continued to dominate the world for centuries. Colonial empires of other European countries such as Spain, France, Denmark and Portugal flourished as well, but they could never dominate the trade routes like the British navy. However, the USA has the biggest Navy in the world as of now, and it continues to expand in size and technology.
Tall ships are typically sailing vessels, that have a complex sail plan and are heavily rigged. They include the various modern schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques designs, which has fore-and-aft sails and may have two or three masts, with at least one being square rigged. They are easily recognized due to their characteristic tall mast and a number of sails. The best opportunity for sailing on tall ships in US is to approach the Tall Ships of Maine that take tourists for rides in summer. The American Sail Training Association can be contacted for volunteer work on tall ships or even for a vocational sea-training course. Their popularity has been recently increased by pirate movies and the attention and coverage given to the Tall Ship's Races (formerly known as the "Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races").
The races are held in Europe every year and include participation from as many as 36 countries. These races feature the biggest tall ships in the world. It was first organized by a London lawyer in 1956, and was meant to be a farewell to the ships of that era. However, after taking into account the public interest generated, it was decided to form a Sail Training International Association that would promote such activities, especially amongst the youth of the world.
02.05.2008.
Inflatable Boats or Aluminum Boats? Which Kind of Boats Suit Me?
Confuse, confuse, confuse! I am confused! What kind of boats should I buy? Aluminum boats or inflatable boats? Which kind is better? Aluminum boats are good but inflatable boats seem nicer. Arghh... What should I do?
Well, if you are in such situation, the first thing you should do is to keep all your money/credit cards tight in you wallet, and then lock it in your drawer! Do not buy any boat in such confusing situation! Make yourself clear first before taking any action otherwise you will end up regretting on the improper boat you bought.
Choosing the boat kinds is just like choosing yourself a shirt.What will you consider when getting a shirt of your own? Yes, you will properly ask these questions.
• How am I using it?
• Where am I using it?
• Who else is using it?
• How much I afford to spend?
These 4 questions will directly guide you to what you need for sure. You have actually got all the answers within yourself. Calm down and start thinking now.
Basically, there are 2 kinds of boats, hard-sided boats and inflatable boats. Hard-sided boats are built with hard materials and are fixed in features such as aluminum boats. On the other hand, inflatable boats are built with fabrics that could be deflated and inflated at your fancy. Obviously, inflatable boats are more mobile in this case.
1)How am I using my boats?
Every single boat is designed for different activities. Some are even specialized in one purpose. Thus, choosing the boat of your favor depends a lot on the activities you going to do.
Attention No.1: Loading Capacity Of The Boats
Make sure the boat you chose meet the requirement of your activities, especially the requirement of the loading capacity and the flexibility. A big and aluminum boat doesn’t mean that it can carry more as the weight of the boat itself might just have consumed most of the loading capacity. However, the light weight inflatable boats have no such worries. The buoyancy tubes which are inflated with air provide a more efficient loading capacity.
Attention No.2: Multi-function Of The Boat
By the way, some inflatable boats are designed for multipurpose use. Activities such as paddling, sailing, rowing, fishing and cruising just best fitted on inflatable boats. Thus, it's important for you to make yourself clear, what activities you want to do with your boats. Compare with inflatable boats, aluminum boats do have some limitations, as they are not flexible enough to transform.
2)Where am I using my boats?
Boating on a lake is totally different from boating on the sea. Beware of this statement.
Attention No.3: Materials Of The Boats
Some boats are not designed to cope with the strong UV and the salty water on the sea. Thus the materials of the boats are essential for where you going to use the boats. Sea eagle inflatable boats which built with 1000 denier reinforced material are simply the best whether on sea water or lake water.
Attention No.4: Stability Of The Boats
Besides, stability is another point of consideration. As there are waves in the ocean, a more stable boat and proper keel design are needed to overcome those rough sea water. Buoyancy and materials of a boat play a big role here.
3)Who else is using my boats?
Beside you yourself, who else will be using the boats? It is equally important for you to consider the ability of other users(if any)to control/handle the boats.
Attention No.5: Light Weight Of The Boats
If you have children and they are using the boats too, beware of the weight of the boats. Whether they can launch the boats themselves or not has to be taken in consideration. Inflatable boats are free-and-easy boats. Inflation of the boats is easy with an air pump and the air light weight should not be a problem for children to carry.
Attention No.6: Friendly-user Handling Of The Boats
A lesser power motor boat should be chose for first time boater as lacking of experience will definitely cause difficulties in handling the boats. Just do not forget to take consideration on other user(if any)when choosing a boat.
4)How much I afford to spend on my boats?
The budget is one of the issues here. When come to choose a boat, other than the price of the boat itself, please do not forget about the fee behind the boats. What I mean here is those extra fee such as storage, insurance, fuel&gas, trailers, repairs, lodging, setting up a tow vehicle, ski, licenses, permit and maintenance fee. It will be such an amount of money to take care of a boat.
Attention No.7: Transporting & Storing Cost Of The Boats
However, inflatable boats with the ability to deflate just save up a lot of transporting fee as you can keep the clothes stack size deflated inflatable boats in your car boot. Unlike those aluminum boats, you have to not only deal with trailers and towing machines, but you have to deal with the storage problem as well. Storing an aluminum boat definitely will cost you something.
Attention No.8: Fuel-Consuming Of The Boats
Besides the storing issue, the light weight inflatable boats need lesser power to be moved and as a result, you have just saved up pennies on fuel. Comparing with aluminum boats, a bigger hp engine is needed to move the boats in a way concuming more gas.
Attention No.9: Resale Market Of The Boats
Inflatable boats are considered economical not only because of the cheaper price of the boat itself and its attribution to save, the good residual resale price is just an add-on privilege.
Choosing aluminum boats or inflatable boats is really depends on yourself. Considering on the 'attention point' mentioned, you are very clear which kind of boats suit you most. However, I will definitely recommend inflatable boats due to the advantages inflatable boats have. The convenience and all-in-one functions that inflatable boats provide are just unbeatable.
29.04.2008.
What Little I Know About Submarines
Submarines fascinated us during World War II. Germany U-boats decimated convoys carrying vital war supplies to England. Our U-boats preyed on Japanese shipping, even daring to infiltrate Japanese homeland ports.
World War II submarines were crewed by heroic men. Thousands on both sides died in the depths of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
After the war, nuclear subs cruised under Polar ice carrying lethal loads of guided missiles with atomic warheads. They were the terror of the Cold War. Unfortunately, they are still cruising. There were loses. A Soviet submarine had a reactor malfunction with casualties. The U.S.S. Thresher went down during deep-diving trials in 5500 feet of water 220 miles east of Boston in 1963—perhaps because a pipe weld failed and flooded the engine room shutting down the reactor. An associate of mine lost a son in that disaster.
During World War II there were submarine incidences on both the Atlantic and Pacific cost of the United States. One was humorous to my Aunt Isabel who lived in Los Angeles. The United States military anti-aircraft crews reacting to the threat of attack blew up a man’s garage. I remember the incident. It was called “The Battle of Los Angeles.” Well, some Japanese submarines could accommodate an aircraft.
Before the “Battle of Los Angeles” a Japanese submarine fired on an oil refinery on the California coast. (That’s why the gunners had itchy fingers.) German agents were dropped by submarine on the east coast of the United States. German submarines were common on the East Coast during the war and sunk many merchant ships.
Those were scary times for this Utah kid. (I listened to my older brother talk to his friends about Hitler and the invasion of Poland. I thought the Germans would be dropping in at any time. At the church, a scary skit showing the Gestapo invading homes, terrorizing families with bayonets, and burning books, didn’t help. I loved books.) Scary Japanese submarines just off the California coast made me consider the possibility of a Japanese invasion. Were we protected in Utah by the Sierra Nevada?
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor my cousin, Billy, and I watched the sky for Japanese aircraft. Japanese balloons landed in the Northwest. We all thought an old Japanese man picking up coal along the railroad tracks was counting the tanks and trucks rolling by and radioing the results to Tokyo.
Eventually the old fellow stopped walking along the tracks. I don’t know what happened to him, but I was worried that my friend, Ted Fuji—would Ted be shipped off to an Arizona Japanese-American internment camp? Ted was the one kid with whom I could talk about crystal-radio building.
Now that we have at least six paragraphs under our belt, I can give some references. I hate this new rule and I’ve asked www.ezinearticles.com to explain why they had to do it. In the past, authors could ad links after the first paragraph.
No answer yet!
For the “Battle of Los Angeles,” I suggest you go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_air_raid
Read about the “Battle of the Atlantic” at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Atlantic_(1939-1945)
Read about submarine warfare in the Pacific at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War#The_submarine_war_in_the_Pacific
The Merchant Marine had the highest rate of battle deaths during World War II. During the same time that the Battle of the Atlantic occurred we had the Battle of Britain. We lost more airmen in that battle than the combined World War II losses of Marines and Navy personal.
We did not control the air and the seas until late in the war. Early in the war, only a small fraction of ships sunk by the Germans was replenished by new ship construction. In 1942, we replenished fewer than half of the ships sunk. However, by 1943 we were building new ships about three to each one lost. See http://www.usmm.org/ww2.html
27.04.2008.
Yacht Charter
Chartering a yacht has always been thought of as an expensive way to have a vacation. Let me explain why that's not always necessarily right.
But I'll start with yacht charters that really are expensive. There's virtually no upper limit to the amount you can spend on these types of vacation. One of the largest mega yachts available for charter, MY Annaliesse will set you back approximately EUR 94,000, and that's for each day. Expenses, fuel amongst others, have to be added to that amount. We have to admit though that Annaliesse is not a standard mega yacht but rather a floating hotel, capable of accommodating up to 36 guests. You will be pampered by crew of 34, including hairstylists, fitness instructors, some of the best chefs and of course the captain and his crew who safely navigate the vessel in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or other beautiful places around the world.
Now, Annaliesse is of course an extreme example. Nevertheless she is booked throughout the year. Considerably cheaper is, for exampe, MY Carmen Fontana. This 40 meter / 120 feet long mega yacht is available in the Greek waters from approx. US$12,000 per day. Still a large amount of money for most of us though. However, these yachts are typically chartered by pop stars, movie stars or other VIP's. The alternative, booking a room or suite in a hotel, will often not work for well known people for obvious reasons. On a yacht one can enjoy their holidays in utmost privacy while a professional crew is always available at their service.
As said, US$12,000 per day is an amount most of us are not willing to spend on a vacation. Most people who charter a yacht in the Mediterranean or Caribbean spend amounts like US$1800 per week for, for example, a 36 feet bareboat sailing yacht. A 36 feet sailing yacht for example, is capable of accommodating 6 people. So when you decide to take your friends and split the amount, you will only spend like US$300 per person per week..... Which in many cases is cheaper than a hotel room. Add the great views, changing by the day if you decide to do some island hopping, the joy of being on the water and the fun of sailing in the most wondeful places on earth and you know why yacht charters are becoming increasingly popular.
26.04.2008.
Wooden Ship Models
Wooden ship models are built-to-scale representations of modern or ancient sea-faring vessels.
Traditionally, all types of ship models have been built of wood, though with the advent of plastic and sheet metal, these have been used for amateur kits. Of course, wooden models project grandeur and finesse. The ancient Egyptians were the pioneers who made detailed ship models. The models were crafted as part of funeral rituals, which forced the builders to strive for precision, otherwise the unmitigated soul would pester them. The ship models kept inside the coffin were supposed to transport the soul of the deceased to the next world.
Modern-day sea-faring received much instruction from these carefully preserved, 5,000- year-old models. Specimens of these boats found a place in the British Museum, the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many other museums worldwide.
Modern-day ship models came into existence before or during the construction of many eighteenth- and nineteenth-century warships. These were known as Admiralty or Shipyard models. Many of these models did not show the timbering they would have in the actual vessel, but the models illustrated the form of the hull and details of the deck furnishings, masts, spars, and general frame. The models provided the non-sea-faring financiers with a bird’s-eye view of the vessel that was to come into being. There are several types of construction of a wooden ship model. Some are carved from a single block of wood, others by gluing together blocks of wood, or by gluing together of slabs of wood into a laminated block. Others are built on what is called plank-on frame, built just as the full-size ship is constructed.
Wooden models of all types of vessels—luxury cruise liners, war ships, sailing ships—are available from dealers. A wooden model of a Chalutier ship costs $149.95; a USS Ronald Regan model costs $999; a wooden model Schooner costs $26.96; a Harvey wooden model costs $110; a Cutty Sark Wooden model costs $189; and an Atlantic costs $195.95. There are various price ranges for the connoisseur.
Vista Cruise Ships - A New Class of Cruise Ships
Holland America has introduced a new class of sailing ships called the Vista cruise ships. Vista Class refers to the fact that these ships are more luxurious and sophisticated than any ships prior to them. Vista Class ships offer a variety of new features.
Accommodations
The Vista cruise ships have many more ocean view staterooms than most ships do. In fact, 85% of the cabins on one of these ships have a view of the sea. There are verandahs on a full four fifths of those with a view. Only 15% of the cabins are interior cabins with no view. All the staterooms are bigger than on ordinary ships.
If you purchase a ticket for one of the Penthouse suites, you will find that it is much bigger than most. It will have a large verandah with an outside dining area and hot tub just for you.
Dining and Entertainment on Vista Class Ships
You will find more variety in dining choices on the Vista ships. The main dining room will be fitted with a bandstand balcony between the two tiers of the room. There will be a fine alternative restaurant that is much larger than you will see on most cruising ships. There are also cafes with a light menu, and the Lido restaurants with everything from pizza to Asian stir fry.
Special effects are keys to many of the entertainment choices on the new Vista ships. The main showroom and the disco will have high-tech lighting and electronic backgrounds that will enhance the shows. The Crow's Nest Lounge is another night spot for travelers.
Interesting Features about the Arcadia
The Arcadia is one of P & O's Vista-type cruise ships. It is an older refitted ship, but it is unique in many ways just as all of these ships are. There are 14 elevators for the passengers. Four of them are glass ones on the exterior of the ship. These four give a ten-deck view of the ocean as you ride up or down in them. This is just a part of the appeal of this new class of sailing ships.
Besides the outdoor pool and Jacuzzis, there is an indoor pool with a retractable roof. This is one of the modern features of the Vista Class ships that are new to cruising ships.
Three seems to be an important number, as the atrium rises three levels up in the ship from its floor. The Palladium Theater also has three tiers. These facilities are impressive.
Take a vacation on a Vista class ship and you will enjoy a different experience than you would on standard cruise liners. While they are larger ships, they are definitely more lavish and well-appointed. It is easy to see why these ships are becoming popular.
Viking Ships
The European history is not only vast and interesting, but has been a major contributing factor to the developments of the world. The technological advances, cultural revolutions, continuous wars, devastating epidemics and gigantic empires have all played a part in what the world is today. The Viking civilization that dominated Northern Europe during 793 ? 1066 AD were known more for their naval prowess and raid attacks than anything else. The Vikings had a unique culture and traditions, and even though they were involved in large scale pillaging and warfare, they followed a high code of honor both in warfare and justice.
The Viking ships basically fall in three categories, large transport vessels (Knarr), Longships, for military use, and small coastal sailing and exploration vessels (Karv). Although as often depicted, all Viking ships did not carry the ?dragonhead? or ?serpent? figures. They were used mainly on warships or ships owned by high-ranked people. The Knarr were known for their maneuverability and loading capacity. The other designs included Byrdling, Skute and Ferje. The longships also had a number of variations, the Busse, the Skeide, the Snekke, the Sud, and Drakkar. The Busse were reportedly large capacity Viking ships with cargo capability, such as the "Ormen Lange" of King Olav Tryggvason, and they could have as many as 35 pair of oars. The Skeide was a Busse variation with smaller size and capacity. The Snekke were the most common ships, used by Canute the Great, and William the Conqueror, renowned for their speed and durability. The Suds evolved near the end of the Viking era and are said to be the biggest Longships. The Drakkar are the most easily recognizable Viking ships due to their distinct dragon or serpent design that symbolized the superior rank of the commanding warrior.
The basic characteristic of Viking ships can be summed up as having a single mast, exceptionally long parallel oars, and the clinker design used for construction, which involved overlapping thick wooden boards.
BASICS OF BOAT DESIGN
Parts of a Sailboat
Although sailboat design varies widely, all sailboats share a few basic components. The boat’s main body is called the hull. The front of the hull is referred to as the bow, while the rear of the hull is called the stern. The rudder extends from the stern and is used to steer the boat. The centerboard, under the hull, helps sailors maintain a steady course by limiting the boat’s movement from side to side. The mast and the boom support the boat’s sails. The mainsail, the largest sail on a sailboat, is fastened to both the mast and the boom. The triangular sail in front of the mast is called the jib.
Only a few basic components are common to most boats of traditional style. The keel is a timber or other element running the length of the bottom of a boat along the center from the bow, or front, to the stern, or rear. The keel serves as the foundation for the frame, which is covered with a waterproof material to form the hull—the body of the boat. The terms keel, frame, and hull are also used in describing modern boats that are not built but are molded in one piece.
Sailing Yacht
A sailing yacht can vary in overall length (Length Over All - LOA, in yachting parlance) from about 6 m (20 feet) to well over 30 m (98 ft), where the distinction between a yacht and a ship become blurred. However, most privately owned yachts fall in the range of about 7 m to 14 m (about 23-46 ft); the cost of building and keeping a yacht rises quickly as length increases. In the US sailors tend to refer to smaller yachts as sailboats, while referring to the general sport of sailing as yachting. (Note: within the limited context of sailboat racing, a yacht is any sailing vessel partaking in a race, regardless of size)
Monohull yachts are typically fitted with a fixed keel or a centerboard (adjustable keel) below the waterline to counterbalance the overturning force of wind on the vessels sails. By contrast, multihull yachts (a catamaran is an example of this type of vessel) use two or more hulls widely separated from each other to provide a stable base that resists overturning.
Until the 1950s almost all yachts were made of wooden boards, or in a larger yacht, steel but nowadays there is a much wider range of materials. Most common is fibreglass, but steel, aluminium and much less often because of insurance difficulties, ferrocement are used as well. Wood is still used (traditional board based methods as well as modern technologies based on plywood, veneers and epoxy-glues etc.) but wood is mostly used when building an individual boat by a hobbyist or wooden boat purist. At the other extreme, high performance yachts such as those used in the Volvo Ocean Race and the Americas Cup are often constructed from carbon fibre.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transport, usually a boat or ship, but also other forms, carrying (or ferrying) passengers and sometimes their vehicles. Ferries are also used to transport freight (in lorries and sometimes unpowered freight containers) and even railroad cars. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services. A foot-passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, is sometimes called a waterbus or water taxi.
Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels.
Mark 3 SR-N4 Hovercraft arriving in Dover on its last commercial flight - 1 October 2000
SHIPS
Ship, vessel that is buoyant in the water and used to transport people or cargo from one place to another via rivers, lakes, or oceans. Traditionally, ships were distinguished from boats by size-any buoyant vessel small enough to fit on board a ship was considered a boat. However, common usage has blurred the distinction between boats and ships, and today the difference between them is arbitrary (Ship vessel, Today sails, Ship transport, Traditionally Ships, Warships, Saint Croix).
Shown sailing near Fredriksted, Saint Croix, the square-rigger Denmark is a modern example of a 15th-century sailing ship with rectangular sails on the mainmast, foremast, and rear mizzenmast.
From prehistoric craft made from animal skins stretched over wooden frames to nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that transport 5,000 people and 85 airplanes, ships have always reflected the values and technologies of the societies that built them. Ancient traders of the Mediterranean built swift-sailing ships with large cargo holds. Their warring successors added oars to increase maneuverability in battle. The Spanish and Portuguese built small, seaworthy craft to carry their best sailors to new lands, then huge merchant vessels to haul the newly claimed riches, and finally fleets of warships to protect their growing wealth. At the end of the 16th century, shipbuilders changed their focus to passenger service as they sought to accommodate the increasing number of people immigrating to Australia and the Americas. They shifted from sail power to steam power and built ships that crossed the ocean in about one-fourth the time of their predecessors. When the jet airplane drastically reduced ship travel in the 20th century, shipbuilders again focused on the transport of cargo, turning out large tankers, the most massive ships ever afloat.
Despite their seemingly endless variety, all ships share a few basic elements (Ship vessel, Today sails, Ship transport, Traditionally Ships, Warships, Saint Croix).
All ships have a main body, or hull, capable of displacing an amount of water equal to or greater than its own weight and the weight of its cargo. At the front end of the hull is the bow (or prow), and at the rear end is the stern. A ship’s size is expressed in terms of the dimensions of its hull-that is, its length, breadth, and volume in tons (calculated by dividing the cubic footage of the hull by 100). All ships also have a steering system and a propulsion system-that is, a device or system of devices that moves them through the water. Like ships themselves, hulls, propulsion systems, and steering systems grew more complex through time (Ship vessel, Today sails, Ship transport, Traditionally Ships, Warships, Saint Croix).
CARGO SHIP OR FREIGHTER
Specialized types of cargo vessels include container ships and bulk carriers (technically tankers and supertankers are cargo ships, although they are routinely thought of as a separate category).
The earliest records of waterborne activity mention the carriage of items for trade; the evidence of history and archaeology shows the practice to be widespread by the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. The desire to operate trade routes over longer distances and at more seasons of the year motivated improvements in ship design during the Middle Ages.
Before the middle of the 19th century, the incidence of piracy resulted in most cargo ships being armed, sometimes quite heavily, as in the case of the Manila galleons and East Indiamen.
Sizes of cargo ships
Cargo ships are categorized partly by their capacity, partly by their weight, and partly by their dimensions (often with reference to the various canals and canal locks through which they can travel). Some common categories include:
Small Handy size, carriers of 20,000-28,000 deadweight tonnage
Handy size, carriers of 28,000-40,000 deadweight tonnage
Handymax, carriers of 40,000-50,000 dwt
Seawaymax, the largest size which can traverse the St Lawrence Seaway
Aframax, oil tankers between 75,000 and 115,000 dwt. This is the largest size defined by the average freight rate assessment (AFRA) scheme.
Suezmax, the largest size which can traverse the Suez Canal
Panamax, the largest size which can traverse the Panama Canal (generally: vessels with a width smaller than 32.2 meter)
Capesize, vessels larger than Panamax and Suezmax, which must traverse the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn in order to travel between oceans
VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), supertankers between 150,000 and 320,000 dwt
ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier), enormous supertankers between 320,000 and 550,000 dwt
BOATS
Boats and Boatbuilding, types and construction of any small, waterborne vessel that displaces and excludes the water surrounding it. Traditionally, boats were distinguished from ships by size—any vessel small enough to be carried aboard a ship was considered a boat. Today, the boundary between boats and ships is no longer defined with precision. Some larger vessels are called boats, although they are longer than some ships. This article focuses primarily on the design and construction of craft less than 20 m (65 ft) long. For a discussion of the history of all waterborne vessels, see Ship.
Boats in a Marina
Both sailing and motor vessels dock at a Friday Harbor marina on San Juan Island, Washington. In the upper right is a large car ferry entering the harbor.
The Elswick cruiser was named after the Armstrong Whitworth shipyard in Elswick, UK. This shipyard had made themselves a name as cruiser constructors in 1885 when the Chilean cruiser Esmeralda was constructed. The Esmeralda was a ground-breaking ship. Its forecastle, poop deck and the wooden board deck had been removed, replaced with an armoured deck. Esmeraldas armament consisted of fore and aft 10-inch (25.4 cm) guns and 6-inch (15.2 cm) guns in the midships positions. It could reach a speed of 18 knots. It also had a displacement of less than 3,000 tons. During the two following decades, this cruiser type came to be the inspiration for combining heavy artillery, high speed and low displacement.
The Elswick cruiser was been designed by Sir Philip Watts, who later would go on and design the legendary battleship HMS Dreadnought. The standard Elswick cruiser carried two 6-inch guns, several smaller guns and had reasonable speed and sea-keeping ability. Elswick sold them to a wide array of countries, including Japan and Chile.
