From the Trireme to Present Day
Traditional boats have been one of humanity’s oldest means of travel. As early as 3600 BCE, the Sumerians, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians began sea voyages. Later, from the 7th century BCE, the Polynesians embarked on vast expeditions, reaching even Australia and Hawaii!
As technology advanced, so did navigation and shipbuilding. In Greece, the first warships were rowed and were called “moneres,” which evolved into “dieres.” When sails and an additional deck were added, they became triremes. Over the centuries, these evolved into Roman triremes and Byzantine dromons. Arabs, on their part, developed the triangular sail, which aided sailing at angles, even nearly against the wind. When the triangular sail combined with Mediterranean ships, the xebec, the settee, and the galley were born. Some consider even the caravel a distant descendant of the trireme.
From the 18th to the 20th century, wooden shipbuilding made significant leaps, and many types of traditional boats were developed. Among them were the trechantiri, the varkala, the tráta, the bottis, and the perama.
The Advantages of Traditional Boats
Although compared to other types of boats, traditional wooden boats are particularly expensive to maintain, they have many positive characteristics:
- They withstand the test of time, unlike plastic or iron boats. Plastic boats suffer from osmosis, while iron ones rust. In a wooden boat, if a piece rots, it is replaced plank by plank, keeping the wood in a good condition.
- They offer better stability. Therefore, they provide a smoother ride, making them ideal for leisure and passenger transport, especially for those who are not used to the sea and waves.
- They do not sink in waves. On the contrary, they float lightly and bounce gracefully, as if dancing. Wood, due to its nature, breathes in water, unlike metal or plastic, offering a light sailing sensation.
- In bad weather, they have a shorter period of oscillation. Therefore, they cause less discomfort to the passengers.
- In my opinion, they are safer and more durable than plastic or iron boats.
The Timelessness of the Wooden Traditional Boat
Plutarch formulated the “Ship of Theseus paradox” when he wondered if Theseus’ ship remained the same as the original, as all its parts had been gradually replaced during maintenance.
Although we do not intend to provoke philosophical concern, this alone serves as an exemplary way to show that even in old times people sought to preserve their maritime tradition.
Furthermore, as we mentioned, the wooden boat, through this process of gradual replacement of its timbers, can withstand centuries. Thus, the American frigate “USS Constitution” remains in operation since 1797! In Greek waters, the brig “Anna” has been sailing since 1875, the “Goumenio” since 1910, and the “Freedom” since 1920.
The Invisible Threat to Traditional Boats
In the past, the European Union, aiming to combat overfishing in the Mediterranean, adopted a measure that imposed the destruction of wooden boats. Unfortunately, this measure did not yield the expected results. Instead, it led to the loss of many jobs for wooden craftsmen.
Today, few shipwrights remain who know the secrets of building traditional boats. It is a historic moment where, for the first time, the chain connecting the trireme to modern vessels is at risk of being broken.
Resalto Protects Shipbuilding Tradition
In recent years, the Ministry has been trying to create a database for the country’s traditional boats in order to record our shipbuilding tradition. Recently, a Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between the Ministry and the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. The purpose is to preserve and promote the recent shipbuilding tradition and highlight the cultural value of wooden boats. It is a program in which we happily decided to participate!
Indeed, a few months ago, a mission from the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy visited our “Resalto” to register our boat in the registry of traditional vessels.