Loch Tay Logboat Project

A demonstration of Bronze Age logboat making on Loch Tay.

Over three weeks in August 2009 the Trust carried out an exciting project to make a Bronze Age logboat, inspired by the 3,000 year old Carpow vessel. In partnership with the Scottish Crannog Centre, Trust staff, aided by volunteers, carried out the work on the banks of Loch Tay, using replica Bronze Age tools and techniques, under the guidance of ancient woodworking specialist Damian Goodburn. While both the Carpow boat, and the Bronze Age logboat from Loch Tay (dated to around 1500BC) were made oak, the Loch Tay logboat was fashioned from a single 9m long Douglas Fir tree trunk.

In the first week the team removed the bark cleaved-off the top quarter of the log to create the flat bottom of the boat, using wooden wedges to split off planks of wood. The team also learned how to haft, dress and sharpen the replica axes, and developed an understanding of the techniques required to use these in comparison to the much bigger and heavier modern axes and adzes. The first week culminated in the bow being rounded off and the log being rolled over onto its finished base. The second week saw the hollowing out process begin, with the boat being marked out into 2m long sections. Two of these sections and the bow were worked on using only Bronze Age replica tools, with a further two being hollowed out using modern steel tools. This allowed the team to compare and contrast the different tools and methods of hollowing out, as well as being able to calculate the length of time taken to work the sections using the replica and modern tools. The third week saw the hollowing out process completed, as well as the cutting of a groove at the stern to house the separate transom board, which was caulked with dry moss, as in the Carpow boat.

Finally the boat was tested on Loch Tay, and was paddled across the Loch on a 20 minute journey, to the Scottish Crannog Centre where it is now on display. The project was successful in informing the team, and the many visitors, of how prehistoric communities made these vessels, the oldest type of boat known. The full story of the project has been published by the Trust in The Carpow Logboat A Bronze Age vessel brought to life.