Docking Techniques For Medieval Sailors: A Historical Guide

Docking a boat in medieval times was a challenging task that required careful planning and execution. The concept of a dock as we know it today took a while to develop, and many medieval ports were simply sheltered harbors where ships could be beached or unloaded using smaller boats. However, there is evidence of more sophisticated docking structures during this period. For example, King John of England built a dock at Portsmouth in the early 1200s, which was an enclosed area of water with a lock, allowing ships to stay sheltered regardless of the tides. This was a significant development in maritime infrastructure.

One type of medieval vessel, the cog, provides insight into the docking process. Cogs were small ships with one mast and one sail, and they were used from around 1000 to the mid-1400s. Due to the limitations of their single square sail, cogs often had to rely on oars or a technique called warping to maneuver into position. Warping involved casting out a line to a fixed point on shore or an anchor and pulling the ship towards it.

Medieval ships also utilized enclosed docks, lighterage (unloading cargo with smaller boats), and piers for docking. The development of dry docks, which could be filled with water and then drained, allowed for ship repairs and maintenance that couldn't be performed while the vessel was in the water.

Flat-bottomed boats for beaching

Flat-bottomed boats are ideal for navigating shallow waterways such as rivers, creeks, lakes, and shorelines. They are also extremely stable on calm shallow waters, making them a great choice for recreational use, and a good pick for hunting and angling on inland waterways.

Flat-bottomed boats are designed to traverse very shallow inland waterways. The flat bottom makes the boat stable in calm water, and its shallow draft allows it to access bodies of water only a few inches deep. The flat hull also makes the boat more stable in calm water, which is good for hunters and anglers.

The flat-bottomed boat design varies depending on the style of boat being built. However, all flat-bottomed boats share the same basic hull design, which is the flat bottom that sits under the water. This gives the boat stability on calm water. The flat bottom also means the boat has a shallow draft, meaning it can access shallow bodies of water that boats with other hull designs cannot.

Some flat-bottomed boats, such as a Jon boat, can navigate waters that are just a few inches deep. The flat bottom means the boat has less chance of snagging on obstacles like rocks or other debris on a riverbed or lake floor. Such obstacles would be hazardous to other types of boats with deeper drafts.

Flat-bottomed boats are the only type of boat that should be used in shallow waters. They offer both stability and a greatly decreased risk of grounding and/or damaging the bottom of the boat on debris. This is due to their very shallow draft (the bottom of the boat does not sit very far down into the water).

The flat-bottomed boat design makes it ideal for beaching, as it can easily be pulled up onto a beach and has great stability when sitting on the shore.

Towing with a smaller boat

If you're looking to dock a large medieval ship, one option is to tow it with a smaller boat. This method was used when a ship was too large to be rowed into harbour.

Medieval ships were typically powered by sails, oars, or a combination of the two. Oars were particularly useful for moving ships in harbour or across short distances. Most ships were small enough to be rowed, but larger vessels could be towed by a smaller boat.

The cog, a type of ship used throughout the medieval period, was a large, clinker-built vessel constructed with overlapping planks held together with iron nails or rivets. Cogs were mainly used for trading and transporting goods, and they could carry up to 200 tons of cargo. They typically had a crew of around 20 sailors.

The longship, used primarily by Norse and Germanic peoples, was another type of medieval ship. It was characterised by its long length and shallow draft, allowing it to navigate coastal waters and open ocean passages. Longships were designed to carry large amounts of cargo and could accommodate up to 40 people on board. They were also used for fishing, whaling, and other types of coastal transportation.

The galley, powered by sails, oars, and rows of slaves, was considered a more cost-effective form of transport. They were used for trade, warfare, and exploration, ranging from small coastal vessels to large warships. Galleys were usually long and narrow, with one or two masts and a single bank of oars along the sides.

The caravel, a type of sailing ship popular among Portuguese and Spanish explorers, was built with a broad beam and shallow draft, making it agile and capable of sailing in shallow waters. Caravels were typically rigged with three masts and were used for exploration and transporting goods, supplies, or troops over long distances.

Warping with a fixed line

Warping is a method of moving a sailing vessel, often against the wind or current, by hauling on a line attached to a fixed object, such as a bollard or tree, or a kedge anchor. This technique was especially useful for medieval ships with a single square sail, which could be difficult to sail up to a pier.

Warping a boat requires careful planning and consideration of wind and currents. It is helpful to imagine the process first and test the boat before fully casting off the lines. If the wind and currents are too strong or opposing each other, it may be necessary to wait for more favourable conditions or enlist additional help.

When warping a boat, it is important to have long lines on opposite sides of the boat, as well as fenders. The specific approach may vary depending on the location and natural forces at play. For larger ships, a small boat can be used to carry the anchor ahead, drop it, and then haul.

Warping can be a useful technique for manoeuvring a boat in tight spaces or changing its direction without using an engine or oars. It is a slow process that requires patience and careful handling, but it can be an effective way to move a boat in challenging situations.

Dry docks

The use of dry docks in China dates back to at least the 10th century AD. In 1088, Song dynasty scientist and statesman Shen Kuo described the repair of two dragon ships in a dry dock-like structure. The ships, which belonged to the throne, were over 200 feet long and required repairs to their hulls. A large basin was excavated, with heavy crosswise beams laid upon pillars. The basin was then flooded, and the ships were towed in and secured above the beams. The water was pumped out, allowing the ships to rest on the beams for repairs. Once the repairs were complete, the water was let back in, and the ships could depart the dock.

One of the oldest dry docks still in existence was commissioned by King Henry VII of England in 1495 at His Majesty's Naval Base in Portsmouth. This dry dock is notable for housing the world's oldest standing warship, HMS Victory.

Today, dry docks continue to be essential for vessel maintenance and repairs. They are used to remove ships from the water for hull repairs and painting, which cannot be performed effectively while the ship is afloat. Modern graving docks are box-shaped to accommodate newer, boxier ships, while older dry docks are often shaped like the ships expected to dock there.

In addition to ship maintenance, dry docks are also utilised in construction projects, particularly in wet locations. For example, the Oosterscheldekering dam in the Netherlands was constructed using 65 massive concrete pillars, each weighing 18,000 tons, that were built in a dry dock. Dry docks provide a stable and controlled environment for constructing large structures that will eventually be placed in water.

Piers

The concept of the "dock" took a while to develop during the medieval period. Many ports were simply sheltered harbours where ships could be beached, or cargo transferred by smaller boats.

One of the earliest docks was built by King John of England in the early 1200s. It was an enclosed area of water with a lock, allowing galleys to be laid up inside in shelter, regardless of the tides. It had a stone enclosure and possibly a perimeter wall, also made of stone.

Docks could also be used for construction projects in wet areas. For example, in the Netherlands, a large dam called the Oosterscheldekering was built, with each of its 65 concrete pillars constructed in a dry dock.

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