Description
The
remains of Ferriby Boat 1 (F1), the most complete find, consisted of a flat
but rockered bottom-structure of three strakes: the keel-strake of two planks
jointed amidships and with one end (and presumably the other) shaped with
a steep upward curve; on either side of it were outer bottom-strakes, each
a single plank 35 feet long and curved in plan on the outer edge. A short
piece of the first side-strake was preserved on one side angled to the bottom
at 128 degrees, but with the end shaped in three dimensions to fit into the
space on the bottom-structure. There is good evidence that there were two
more side-strakes making a total of three along each side. The bottom-structure
was braced laterally by transverse timbers passing through cleats shaped integrally
on the planks. The planks of oak were mostly of 3-4 inch thickness, but increased
to 6-8 inch amid-ships. They were stitched to each other with individual withies
of yew-branch at 9-12 inch intervals. The seams were caulked with moss and
capped by oak laths for watertightness. It is thought that a peeled branch
of yew was fed in and twisted inside the thickness of the timber as the stitch
was formed, to separate the fibres and make the withy flexible. The edges
of the planks were shaped with a variety of interlocking seams, the main purpose
being to 'bury' the stitching for protection against damage on grounding.
Sections of various seams
In 1963 part of a third
boat was found and excavated next to F1. It consisted of a length of an outer
bottom-strake and the associated lowest side-strake. Apart from minor differences
of detail, it was notable for the absence of the cleats and transverse timbers
found in the bottom of F1 and F2
Copyright - Estate of Edward Wright deceased. As extracted from his booklet 'North Ferriby and the Bronze Age Boats'
