Shipbuilding from its beginnings. Vol. 1 (of 3)Konijnenburg, E. van (Emile)
History
Shipbuilding from its beginnings. Vol. 1 (of 3)
Konijnenburg, E. van (Emile)
Shipbuilding -- History; Ships -- History
These caravels dit not remain in use to act as “Kraecks”; but with
this vessel we reach the time when the reciprocal influence of the two
centres begins to be felt.
[Sidenote: II 119]
[Sidenote: II 117]
Two existing Flemish miniatures show clearly the difference which
existed between the Dutch type and the foreign type; they date from
1482 and 1488 respectively. The first is the picture of the true type
of the Dutch vessel; the second shows a foreign ship. On the first,
the vessel is represented with smooth sides; therefore this system of
construction was adopted among us in the XVth century.
The vessels are not yet made with a square stern, however; their stern
being still round in accordance with the ancient way. As a general
rule, they were of small size, and our present sea “hoys” could have
been compared with them in this respect. They had a capacity of 160,
180 and 200 tonnes, or 80, 90 and 100 “lasts”. Nevertheless, there
were also some of 220, 230 and 240 tonnes, or, 110, 115 and 120 lasts.
(~M. de Jonge~, Vol. I, p. 80.)
The “Karvielen” and the “Kraecken” disappear in the XVIIth century and,
at this time, no more types which differ from the ordinary Holland
type are met with. Hence it can be maintained that the “Karvielen” and
“Kraecken” did not succeed in taking root with us. It will be seen, on
the contrary that the full-bowed vessels came more and more into use.
The name of “cog” was, therefore, no longer in use in the XVth century.
Nevertheless this type of vessel continued to exist. The “cog” gave
birth to the “Hulken” and these latter to the “Baertzen”. Although
modified, the first form, that of the full-bowed ship, remained in
use. One single characteristic disappeared: that of the slender
bows and sterns of the old “Viking” boat which are found in all the
reproductions known in the North-West of Europe, from Denmark to and
including England and the North of France.
The rigging developed in its turn: the single mast was replaced by
three pole masts, each having a top and a single large sail. The ropes
were made stronger and channels appeared near the end of the XVth
century. The steering oar of the old “cog” had long since given place
to the rudder.
It would be incorrect to call “cogs” the vessels represented by Master
W. A., as Arenhold has done in his work: _Die allmähl. Entwickelung
des Segelschiffes von der Römerzeit bis zur Zeit der Dampfer_, p.
650--(_Jahrbuch der Schiffbautechnischen Gesellschaft_, 1906). They
are, however, forms which issue from the “cog” but not new forms
developed alongside of ancient forms. If history be consulted, there
will be no cause for surprise at seeing the effects of the contact of
the two Centres appear exactly in the XVth century.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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