Boat Parts - Shetland names
Until the mid 19th century boats such as the Yoal and Sixareen were imported to Shetland from Norway in 'kit form', ready for assembly. Possibly to make assembly easier, or parts ordering easier, each part of the boat had a name, hence to this day the names used for boat parts in Shetland bear more relationship to Norwegian, than British Language.
Throughout the islands the names used for these parts have changed over the years, making it difficult to produce a definitive list of parts which will not be argued to be wrong in some respect.
In compiling this list primary reference will be given to the information held by the Shetland Museum, and Unst Boat Haven, then other names and spellings will be given, where possible, including Norwegian name, and the English name and description.
Most of the pictures used in this section were taken at the Unst Boat Haven which has, most likely, the best collection of boat artifacts in Shetland. A few of the pictures were taken at the Fishery Museum on the island of Hjertoya, near Molde, in western Norway, this again emphasising the connection between Shetland and Norwegian boats.
Aer
Also: Remak,
Norw. Åre(r)
Oar.
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Baand
Also: Baund,
Norw. Band or Renge
A frame forming a rib of a boat, to which the boards are fixed. Qualified by position and function.
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Beck
Wooden brace underneath Taft, and fixed to Baand at each end. Transverse tie-beam spanning the opposing sides of a band (term almost exclusive to yoals)
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Blaand Keg
A keg carried, especially on Sixareen's, filled with blaand (sour whey), for refreshment.
The picture to the right is of a Norwegian keg from 1856, photographed at the Fishery Museum on Hjertoya. Although not a Shetland one it is likely very similar.
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Boddam Runner
Norw. Kjølbord
Garboard. Board next to the keel of a Sixareen
The Picture to the right shows the Boddam Runner in relation to the other boards.
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Bore
Hole through boat's plank or gunwale to take a rope
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Bowlin
Norw. Baugline
Rope from top of mast to top of forrard stem head.
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Fastibaand
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Also: Haddibaand, Haddabaund,
Transverse tie-beam beneath a taft in Sixareen, spanning the sides of a baand. Referred to as a Beck in Yoal.
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Fitlinn
Piece of wood laid across the boat for oarsmen to place their feet against and gain extra purchase on the oars. The fitlinns would also have been used to lay on the beach to haul the boat over.
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Fiskabrods
Norw. Underskore
Boarding beneath tafts to separate the rooms of the boat, eg. to keep fish from moving from the Shot room into the Owsin room.
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Fore Head
Norw. Framskott (or -skut)
Forrard part of a Sixareen, from Fore Taft to bow.
The picture to the right shows the Fore Head in relation to the other Rooms.
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Fore Room
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Front section of a Yoal, forrard of fore baand where fishing tackle, sails, etc. was stored.
Section of a Sixareen just in front of the mast, between the Mid Room, and Fore Head
The pictures to the right show the Fore Room in relation to the other Rooms.
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Futtock Baand
Half frame spanning several boards near stern of Sixareen.
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Gabbard Straik
In a Yoal, the board nearest to the keel.
The picture to the right shows the Gabbard Straik in relation to the other boards.
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Hassen
Also: Hassing,
English: Strake
In a Sixareen. the second board up from the keel.
The picture to the right shows the Hassen in relationship to the other boards.
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Hassen Straik
In a Yoal, the second board up from keel, between the Gabbard Straik and the Lower Sool.
The picture on the right shows the Hassen Straik in relation to the other boards.
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Hinny Spot
Also: Hinnispott, Hunni Spot,
Norw. Kråband
Breast Hook; Triangular piece of wood joining and strengthening the gunwales where they are attached to the stem, or horn, at the bow and stern.
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Horn
Top of Stem, at bow and stern.
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Huggistaff
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Also: Huggie-staff, Clip,
Norw. Klepp
Gaff for hooking fish into the boat
The first image to the right shows a selection of Norwegian Klepps, and the far right image is a Shetland Huggistaff.
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Humlieband
Also:Humlaband,
Norw. Hamleband
A loop of rope, fixed through the Routh and around the oar to keep oar in place. Also made of cured hide.
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Kabe
Also:Cabe,Keb,Kaeb,
Norw. Keip, (pronounced almost the same way as "Kabe")
A hardwood peg sticking up from the Routh, against which the oar was rowed. Flat sided, removable thole.
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Kannie
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Also: Hurrik; Cuddie; Hohl.
Norw. Bakskott (or -skut)
Stern section of a Sixareen where skipper would sit at the helm.
At the front of the Kannie is the Pump.
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Klette
Also:Klet, Clet,
Cleat for belaying halliards.
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Laands
Also: Launds,
Upper boards of a Sixareen, between Swills and Reebin.
The Picture to the right shows the position of the Laands in relation to the other boards.
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Lower Sool
Third board up from keel of a Yoal between Hassen Straik and Upper Sool.
The picture to the right shows the Lower Sool in relation to the other boards.
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Mid Room
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Section of boat just before mast. Normally where ballast stones were placed. These ballast stones could be dumped as sufficient weight of fish was brought on board.
The pictures to the right show the Mid Room in relation to the other Rooms.
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Nile
Cork or wooden plug to seal nile-hol.
Norw. Nugle
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Nile-Hol
Norw. Nuglehol (or -hull)
Drainage Hole in bottom of boat.
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Owsekerri
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Also: Austkerri, Austkerry,
Norw. Ausekar or Øsekar
Wooden scoop used for owsin (Bailing) water from boat.
The first picture to the right is a Norwegian Ausekar , while the one to the far right is from Shetland.
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Owsin Room
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Also: Aust Room, Owse Room,
Norw. Auserom
Section of boat aft of the mast which was kept clear for owsin (bailing) out any water.
The pictures to the right show the Owsin Room in relation to the other Rooms.
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Pump
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Wooden pump fitted to Sixareens. A simple 'lift pump' device which spilled the water out through a channel at each side of the boat. The Pump was fitted at the front of the Kannie, where the skipper sat, at the helm.
The picture at the far right shows two pumps which are unusual in design, one octagonal, and one round, instead of the normal square design shown in the first picture.
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Rae
Norw. Rå (from this part the Norwgian square sail has got its name "Råsegl" (or -seil))
Yard arm, to which sail was attached. Hoisted up mast on running piece called Rackie.
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Rakki
Also: Rackie,
Norw. Rakke
Circular part around mast which carried the yard up and down the mast.
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Reebin
Also: Reebing,
Norw. Fastbord
Upper board of a Sixareen.
The picture on the right shows the Reebin in relation to the other boards.
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Rimwale
Rubbing Strip, fitted along outer surface of top board, level with gunwale, to brotect board edge.
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Routh
Norw. Tollegang
Block of hard wood fixed to gunwale on which the oars rested.
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Routh Pins
Wooden pegs which fixed the Routh to the gunwale.
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Sand Straik
Fifth board up from keel of a Yoal, between Upper Sool and Upper Wup.
The picture on the right shows the Sand Straik in relation to the other boards.
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Sclates
Also: Sclats,
Norw.Skaut
Flat pieces of wood attached to oars to prevent oar from wearing against the Routh, and Kabe.
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Shot Room
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Also: Shott, Wade,
Section aft of aft Baand where catch is stored.
The pictures to the right show the Shot Room in relation to the other Rooms.
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Skaer
Also:Skair.
Scarf Joint; where two parts of a board are beveled to form an elongated join.
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Skaer Baand
Also: Skaer Baund, Skair Baand. Skair Baund, Strickin Baund,
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Skaer Taft
Also: Skair Taft,
The aftmost taft, or seat in a boat, above Skair Baand. Skair means scarf, or a scarf joint.
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Sole baand
Lower element of a transverse frame, spanning the bottom planking; the knee-heads (c.f.) are scarphed to it.
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Stammerin
Also: Stammeron,
Norw. Stemn or Stamn
Transom Knee or Cant Frame in bow and stern of boat.
The picture to the right shows the Stammerin in the bow of a Ness Yoal.
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Stong
Mast.
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Strood
Norw. Vant
Shroud, supporting mast.
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Strood Bores
Holes in gunwale through which Stroods were fixed.
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Swills
Also: Swilles,
Third and 4th boards of a Sixareen.
The picture to the right shows the Swills in relation to the other boards.
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Tack Baand
Tack Knee: Part-frames extending down from gunwale over upper boards to spread strain from sail tack.
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Tack Bores
Holes bored through gunwales above Tack Knees for for sail tack.
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Taft
Norw. Tofte
Seats in a boat, supported at each end by the Wearin
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Tilfer
Norw. Tilje
Floor board in boat.
To see a close-up image of a boats tilfer, click on the image to the right.
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Trenail
 Click image to enlarge. |
 Click image to enlarge. |
Wooden peg, inserted through board and frame, with a wedge driven into each end to expand the trenail and hold it in place.
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Upper Sool
Fourth board up from the keel of a Yoal, between the Lower Sool and the Sand Straik.
The picture on the right shows the Upper Sool in relation to the other boards.
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Upper Wup
Sixth and uppermost board of a Yoal, above Sand Straik, and to which the gunwale is fixed.
The picture to the right shows the Upper Wup in relation to the other boards.
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Vadkabe
Also:Vadkaeb,
Norw. Vabein
A flat wooden peg placed in the Routh, instead of the Kabe, with a grove in the top for hauling a line over to save wearing the gunwales. In some instances the Vadakabe had a ram's horn,like the one in the picture on the right, which didn't wear as quickly as wood, fixed to its top to haul the line over.
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Wale
Gunwale.
Norw. Rip
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Wearin
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Also:Wearing,
Wooden brace across baands on either side of the boat, on which the ends of the Taft rest.
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