Never seen this. What is it?

[19thol]

I think it their dingy.

[verkerkbr]

Originally Posted by Cdreamin

I found this image in a recent National Geographic magazine. There are 2 boats sailing in the original image.The caption states that the boats are in a competition that started from the harbor side of Blokzijl, The Netherlands.


Notice the series of lines running parallel to each other off of the starboard side into the water. The waves from the lines indicate that they are being pulled thru the water. I have never seen anything like this before and it has me curious.

I tried a quick Google search but found nothing.

Can someone please explain and possibly provide more images?


I imagine that maybe there is some sort of ballast fin ( lacking a better term) and it is used to reduce heel, but really have no idea.

Here the information:

https://www.skutsjesilen.nl/english/

These former Dutch inland sailing freight vessels are called Skutsjes (Frisian language) or Tjalk

These boats are flat bottomed and have leeboards on both sides. When tacking the leeboards have to be changed.

The boards are only to reduce drift.

Now these boats are used for Regatta's, charter.

[Vesta]

Have a look at
Skutsjehistorie. You could try contacting them via email.

[az_r2d1]

Originally Posted by joefults

Sailing freighters were common in the Netherlands and many are still around. They use leeboards,have a very flat bottom and don’t draw much water. They are surprisingly fast. A friend of mine owns one and has a charter company. On her website you can learn about them. Langszijzeilcharters.nl

Surprisingly fast by standards 200 years ago, sure. But not by todays standard. They do best with a LOT of wind. Anything less and they are slow as molasses. They are great to see and sail, but don't be in a hurry.

In the original picture they are 'bomen'. Pushing the boat forward since there is little to no wind. These boats were used for cargo and their minimal draft was ideal for Dutch waterways and coastline which has many shallow areas which also change over time. They are quite heavy and when the wind dies down you better be patient.

[Nicholson58]

Very much like the Cheasapeake bay log canoes used for oystering. Flat bottom, shallow draft. Little or no keel. Purpose built for canals and shallow waterways.

[foretopman]

Counterweight, to offset wind lean, or sail/boom weight?

[az_r2d1]

Here is another way how these ships were moved thru the canals; (dutch language but the video will show you.)
https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/...ten-op-Het-Sas

[Neeltje]

The smaller, lighter ones are the Skutzes. They usually displace under 20 tons and don't get much longer than 50-60 feet. These are usually found on the canals and shallow inland seas in Holland. They larger Tjalks (40 tons + and 60-120 + feet in length) were more often used as coastal barges. They weren't particularly fast as ships go, but they could "park" just about anywhere thanks to their flat bottoms. That came in handy when delivering goods to coastal towns that had a beach, but no harbor. The Tjalks could sail in with the tide, unload/load at low tide, while sitting on their bottom, and sail out with the following tide.

The "sticks" are simply depth gauges. They still use them today in the Skutze races, where banging a leeboard against the bottom isn't an option.

I've never actually sailed my Tjalk, but from what I've heard, and unless you're going in a straight line, sailing these things can get pretty physical. Skutze racers usually have a crew of 12 or 13, and they do keep busy most of the time.

[az_r2d1]

The sticks are definitely NOT depth gauges. Just the fact that there are 4 of them right next to each other is a good indication. They are also not vertical.
There are people standing there pushing the boat with 4 booms. "jagen"

[Neeltje]

Originally Posted by az_r2d1

The sticks are definitely NOT depth gauges. Just the fact that there are 4 of them right next to each other is a good indication. They are also not vertical.
There are people standing there pushing the boat with 4 booms. "jagen"

Sorry about that. My glasses aren't what they used to be and I can't actually see the "sticks", so I took it for granted that they were, indeed, "sticks" and not "poles".

This said, I've seen pictures of skutzes hauled by horses and even men along the tow paths, but I have yet to see one being "poled" along.

I suppose that once the inertia of the beast was broken, 4 hearty sumo wrestlers could, in fact, keep it moving forward, just as long as their runs were short enough to avoid the leeboards and such, whilst running along a 12" wide gunnel.

I suppose the hardest part would be back-poling a 20-ton chunk of riveted Swedish Iron to get it to stop within a mile or two when necessary. Just sayin'...

[Don C L]

Ahhh back when the men were men and the women were glad of it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwvfpWXlMto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB1QeSro_gI

I've seen videos somewhere where everyone with a pole walks up, puts it in and walks it back in unison and then they all walk forward to pole the barge along.

[az_r2d1]

Originally Posted by Neeltje

Sorry about that. My glasses aren't what they used to be and I can't actually see the "sticks", so I took it for granted that they were, indeed, "sticks" and not "poles".

This said, I've seen pictures of skutzes hauled by horses and even men along the tow paths, but I have yet to see one being "poled" along.

I suppose that once the inertia of the beast was broken, 4 hearty sumo wrestlers could, in fact, keep it moving forward, just as long as their runs were short enough to avoid the leeboards and such, whilst running along a 12" wide gunnel.

I suppose the hardest part would be back-poling a 20-ton chunk of riveted Swedish Iron to get it to stop within a mile or two when necessary. Just sayin'...

It doesn't need sumo wrestlers, 4 people can make it move easily.
It's A Dutch ship btw, and the older ones were made of wood.

Back when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel.

[a64pilot]

You guys do realize that Neeltje is one of these Dutch barges don’t you?

[az_r2d1]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You guys do realize that Neeltje is one of these Dutch barges don’t you?

You do realize I grew up sailing these, don't you ?

[a64pilot]

I had no idea, however I can assume Neeltje knows what it’s made from.

I didn’t know how many were in actual use anymore, but assume likely quite a few are being lived in?