Section Plan View of Gokstad Viking Ship Particularly worthy of note in this close-up detailed Section Plan View of the Gokstad is the Mast Partner.  You will find this drawing in the section titled: 'Construction Methods,' along with detailed analysis of the history of the boat building methods employed by the Vikings in the building of the Gokstad and other Viking ships. The following account is the result of a new examination of the ship (1943-44) "Every part of the planking is carefully formed according to its function. The first 9 strakes from the keel, forming the bottom below the waterline, are of elastic planks 1" (2.6 cm.) thick, mostly lashed to the ribs with withy, and not nailed. It is a very curious construction, a legacy from the early, primitive stages of ship-building, still used in the Viking Era although at that time a more simple technique could surely have been found. On the inside of the planking, in the middle of each strake and in one piece with it, are rows of protruding cleats. This is a very nice piece of carpentry, as the cleats are cut out during the process of reducing the boards to the desired thickness The cleats are so placed that each one is directly under its corresponding rib and through each cleat two holes are made, one on each side of the rib. Then two holes are made through the rib, on both sides of the cleat. Next, lashings are put through the holes of both ribs and cleats, tying them together. The cleats are so cut that the upper edge of the plank is against the rib, while the lower edge is outside and overlapping the plank below. In the Gokstad ship, lashings of fine spruce roots were used. This construction is used for the second strake and those above, up to, and including the eighth. The first, garboard strake is riveted on to the ridge on the side of the keel and to the second strike, with no other fastening. The 9th strake, the last of the strakes below the waterline has no lashing cleats, but is fastened to the ribs with a treenail. At the point of contact between the rib and the planking there is a broad cleat that begins as a ridge approximately in the middle of the strake, so that the lower edge can be placed outside the strake below. Thus we see that the various strakes differ according to their place and function in the hull. All this had to be carefully planned, measured and cut before the planking was riveted together. By a close examination of the ship one almost feels as if one could follow the movement of the sure and well-trained hands that worked here." This particular view is not included in the Gokstad Plans, and we recommend book marking this Web site for future reference. All pages on this Web site contain additional details concerning Viking ships, links to other pages in this site, and other relevant sites. For information on nonprofits and the program we are currently working on to help breach the 'Digital Divide' visit Merisol Services, Inc. at: http://www.geocities.com/merisol_services