Nails and roves

These are copper boat nails and roves used in the construction of traditional clinker boats in North Uist, 1999.

The copper nails and roves lie inside a traditional clinker boat, together with a hammer.

A clinker boat has each individual strake (plank of wood from stem to stern) overlapping the previous lower one. The building of traditional clinker-planked boats has changed little since Viking times. Apart from the use of modern machinery to cut and shape the wood, the actual building process remains the same. Many of the builders worked entirely from experience gained over the years, without the use of elaborate moulds to guide them.

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.