At the museum we have a traditional boatyard with three boat builders and one apprentice. The workshop produces and sells boats on demand, and shows the craftsmanship to our visitors. Another important part is having apprentices, so that we keep the knowledge and tradition alive, always handing the knowledge and craftsmanship on to new generations. The art of boatbuilding is tacit knowledge, it cannot be learned to the fullest simply by reading a book, and therefore needs to be kept alive to be protected. Writing about it is just not enough. Einar, our master boat builder, learned from an old local boat builder,and so the knowledge and tradition has been handed down through an unbrokenchain of craftsmen, which we are still a part of today. And we are proud to be so!
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An åfjord boat and a sjark in the making. - 2/20
Clamps are used for holding the new strake in place before it is properly fastened. The sticks pointing down from the ceiling and up from the ground are used to shape the boat, by applying more or less pressure in different areas. - 3/20
Breasthook. We use a lot of compass timber from roots and branches grown in a bend. The tree is much stronger when the fibre follows the shape. - 4/20
We use a lot of compass timber from roots and branches grown in a bend. The tree is much stronger when the fibre follows the shape. - 5/20
We use a lot of compass timber from roots and branches grown in a bend. The tree is much stronger when the fibre follows the shape. - 6/20
All iron fittings and hooks are hand-forged at the boatyard. - 7/20
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The boatbuilders use a lot of old specialized tools, like these planers. - 10/20
A boat clamp, used to keep the new strake in place before it is properly fastened. - 11/20
A good axe is crucial. - 12/20
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Roots ready for use. - 20/20
The boat builders build new boats, as well as restoring old ones.
Our local boat is the Åfjord boat. It has a light, flexible construction, and a perfect combination of rowing and sailing traits. They come in sizes from about 15 to 60feet, all based on the same shape and construction. The main material used is spruce, and the frames are made from spruce roots and pine branches that have grown in a bend.
We also build other boat types, like nordlandsbåt, nordmørsbåt, listerbåt, notgavler, sjarker, jakter, and more. And we have been involved in a wide variety of projects, from building the worlds largest vikingship, "Draken Harald Hårfagre", to building test raft models for the KonTiki2 expidition.
If you have questions, or if you are interested in having a boat built or repaired, please contact our boat builder Einar Borgfjord: einar.borgfjord@mist.no
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"Åfjord boat" is the name of our local boat type. They also have names for their sizes. The boats on this picture are the size "halvfjerming" (23-27 ft), making them "Åfjords halvfjerming". - 2/33
Åfjordsbåt. Færing, about 18 ft. - 3/33
Åfjordsbåt. Storfæring, about 20 ft. Usually the åfjord boats are square rigged, smaller boats can also have a fore-and-aft rig. - 4/33
Åfjordsbåt. Firing, 27-32 ft. Rigged with a square sail. - 5/33
Åfjordsbåt. Firing, 27-32 ft. Rigged with a square sail. - 6/33
Åfjordsbåt. Firing. This one also has a "løfting", a small house aft. - 7/33
Åfjordsbåt. Læstabåt, 32-38 ft. This one is sqare rigged with a main sail and a topsail. (The topsail is not in use in the picture, but you can see the high mast). - 8/33
Åfjordsbåt. Torskegarnsbåt (fembøring), 40-48 ft. - 9/33
Life onboard an åfjordsbåt under sail. - 10/33
Åfjordsbåt. - 11/33
Åfjordsbåt. Lofotbåt (storfembøring), 48-60 ft. - 12/33
Åfjordsbåt. Tendring /bygdabåt. - 13/33
Nordlandsbåt. This is the traditional boat from northern norway. - 14/33
Nordmørsbåt (geitbåt). Traditional boat from Nordmøre. - 15/33
Small wooden dinghy, "Skeise" - 16/33
Spisse. - 17/33
Spisse. - 18/33
"Skipbåt". Larger dinghy for a sailing ship. - 19/33
Copy of the old lifeboat onboard the veteran boat "Værdalen". - 20/33
Lifeboat for the steamboat Hansteen. - 21/33
The viking sip "Visund". - 22/33
Jakta Det gode liv. - 23/33
Jakta Det gode liv. - 24/33
Listerbåt. - 25/33
Listerbåt. - 26/33
Listerbåt. - 27/33
Listerbåt. - 28/33
Listerbåt being repaired. - 29/33
Notgavvel. - 30/33
Notgavvel. - 31/33
Left: Børsabåt. Right: Åfjordsbåt. - 32/33
Børsabåt. Traditional fishing boat. Mainly a motorboat, but it also has sails. - 33/33
Børsabåt. Traditional fishing boat. Mainly a motorboat, but it also has sails.
