lapstrake boat in Lord of the Rings [Archive]

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michaelc

12-23-2001, 12:41 AM

Just came home from seeing the Lord of the Rings movie with my children. The film was reportedly done in New Zealand. The reason, I'm posting is that there were 3 beautiful lapstrake craft that appeared somewhat like a cross between a drift boat and norse faering with plenty of rocker and sheer. Is this a New Zealand design ? Something made for the movies? or a traditional design I'm just too ignorant to know about? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Mike Field

12-23-2001, 03:07 AM

Michael, there are already two threads open on this, albeit without a lot in the way of answers --

http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/Forum5/HTML/003593.html

http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/Forum5/HTML/003673.html

TomRobb

01-02-2002, 11:06 AM

I'd be surprised if the design did not have more to do with the poetic vision of the Art Director than it had to do with any past "real" designs.

Thaddeus J. Van Gilder

01-04-2002, 08:51 AM

They looked to me very similar to the clinker canoes that are in John Gardener's book of boat plans that was released right around his death.

TimothyB

05-28-2003, 11:42 AM

This is a very old thread, but I actually know the answer to the question smile.gif

The lapstrake 'elven boats' used by the Fellowship to get down the river Andui'n were entirely designed by art folks. They took the lines from 'various sources' but created the boats with only esthetics in mind. The boats were NOT built of wood, unfortunately. They were fiberglass molded "so that we could make replacements quickly if we had to". So were the paddles.

They were 'notoriously squirrely' and 'tippy' said Vigo Mortensen.

--T

Wild Dingo

05-28-2003, 11:44 AM

aaahhh see wait long enough and all will be revealed! :D Thanks Tim :cool:

john welsford

05-31-2003, 06:10 PM

They are currently in the set store in Wellington, about 5 hours drive from where I am. I do visit there for time to time on business but so far have not had a free days to go and have a look.The word from the guys involved with building the original was that they were essentially a canoe with "Oseberg ship" planking and stems.

If and when I get in to have a look I'll come back with my observations.

JohnW

michaelc

05-31-2003, 10:25 PM

Thanks Tim and John. They were sure pretty in the movie tho.