Showing posts with label mud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mud. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 April 2017
A Chinese Mud Skipper
This unusual little craft -- and I emphasize the "little" -- may be among the oldest plank-built boats still in recent use. According to G.R.G. Worcester in The Junks & Sampans of the Yangtze (1971), a Chinese history written in 90 B.C. attributes its invention to the Emperor Yü, (2205 B.C.). So it's clearly more than 2,100 years old, and possibly more than 4,200 years old if the ancient text is to be believed.
The boat is known as the ni-mo-ch'uan, literally "mud-touching boat." It is used on mud flats when they are exposed at low water to collect a highly prized edible snail.
The ni-mo-ch'uan is a tiny form of sampan, being built of three 1/2-inch planks and subdivided by bulkheads. The one shown is 6' LOA and a mere 9-1/2" beam, with sides only 3-1/2" high. At just 1-1/3 cubic feet, this may be the smallest hull, by volume, of any known boat.
The transom features a semicircular cutout that is key to the method of propulsion. The shellfisherman kneels in the stern, with one knee on the bottom board and his shin resting in the cutout. The other leg he extends over the side of the boat, and uses it to propel the boat by pushing with his foot against the mud. He supports his upper body by holding onto the crossbar, which is raised about 18" above the boat's bottom. Worcester days that "progress is achieved quite rapidly" over the mud in this manner. Captured snails are kept in a basket in the bow.
The hull is rockered at the bow, to assist the boat in moving over the mud, and flat astern, to maximize buoyancy beneath the operator. Worcester notes the limber beneath the transom notch, to drain water, but it's unclear how this would not permit more water to enter than it allows to drain out. Perhaps it was stopped with a wood plug or a twist of grass and mud when the boat was afloat.
When observed by Worcester, the boat was "indigenous to the Shanghai area," and similar craft were "used in most of the shallow lakes and in the Tungting Lake, being diverted from their ordinary purpose and used for duck shooting."
Worcester relates a tale in which this most diminutive of boats was used successfully as a ship of war during the Ch'ing dynasty (which lasted from 1644 to 1911; I wish he'd been a little more specific):
 |
| ni-mo-ch'uan from The Junks & Sampans of the Yangtze, G.R.G. Worcester. Click to enlarge. |
The ni-mo-ch'uan is a tiny form of sampan, being built of three 1/2-inch planks and subdivided by bulkheads. The one shown is 6' LOA and a mere 9-1/2" beam, with sides only 3-1/2" high. At just 1-1/3 cubic feet, this may be the smallest hull, by volume, of any known boat.
The transom features a semicircular cutout that is key to the method of propulsion. The shellfisherman kneels in the stern, with one knee on the bottom board and his shin resting in the cutout. The other leg he extends over the side of the boat, and uses it to propel the boat by pushing with his foot against the mud. He supports his upper body by holding onto the crossbar, which is raised about 18" above the boat's bottom. Worcester days that "progress is achieved quite rapidly" over the mud in this manner. Captured snails are kept in a basket in the bow.
The hull is rockered at the bow, to assist the boat in moving over the mud, and flat astern, to maximize buoyancy beneath the operator. Worcester notes the limber beneath the transom notch, to drain water, but it's unclear how this would not permit more water to enter than it allows to drain out. Perhaps it was stopped with a wood plug or a twist of grass and mud when the boat was afloat.
When observed by Worcester, the boat was "indigenous to the Shanghai area," and similar craft were "used in most of the shallow lakes and in the Tungting Lake, being diverted from their ordinary purpose and used for duck shooting."
Worcester relates a tale in which this most diminutive of boats was used successfully as a ship of war during the Ch'ing dynasty (which lasted from 1644 to 1911; I wish he'd been a little more specific):
"It is recorded that a town on Hangchow Bay was once attacked by pirates whose boats had grounded on the mud flats by the falling tide. A certain enterprising and warlike villager called together all the owners of the mud-touching boats and at night proceeded out to the stranded pirates, who, being taken completely by surprise, were all either killed or captured."
Friday, 24 March 2017
Inboard mud boat plans
Above is a images model Inboard mud boat plans
Boating terms and expressions. - diy wood boat, Common boating terms expressions and their meanings that every wooden boat enthusiast ought to know..
Antique boat america / antique boat canada, Search results: under 20 feet. 789 boats were found that matched your search. scroll down and click on the id or boat description to view. click here to receive e.
Antique boat america / antique boat canada, Search results: last 30 days. 27 boats were found that matched your search. scroll down and click on the id or boat description to view. click here to receive e-mail.
Hi Guys This is often understanding of Inboard mud boat plans The correct position let me demonstrate to you personally I know too lot user searching Inboard mud boat plans The information avaliable here Enjoy this blog In this work the necessary concentration and knowledge Inboard mud boat plans I really hope these details is advantageous for you Friday, 3 March 2017
Here How to build a boat mud motor
How to build a boat mud motor is normally one in every of a person who within these days We all know in the report search engines As a way to produce precious facts to audience we certainly have sampled to search out all the near relevance visuals round How to build a boat mud motor Together with at this point you might look at these days, these kinds of photos are already obtained with the main aid.
How to build a boat mud motor - it has long been circulated with the expectation of which you'll be able to easlily really encourage applied to you personally will certainly. This informative article can easily assist being a guide if you end up unclear to find the best tutorial This How to build a boat mud motor content articles may just be your own preference being placed on the task program, because contains specific to it schedule might believe alot more convinced How to build a boat mud motor - Very beneficial in your case therefore we are trying to find a trusted foundation of which can assist you to get encouragement not having turmoil. take always into account that will lesemarke this page, mainly because it's possible at some point you should have the item returning when a person's inspirational strategies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
