Maslo & MythDig
Maslo
Hey MythDig, I was looking at those old Viking ship plans you found—have you ever thought about actually building a replica? I’d love to see the craftsmanship up close.
MythDig
A Viking ship, eh? I’d love to hammer out the hull and see those rams in action, but you know I’ve been arguing about whether those plans even came from a real fleet or a later romanticized draft. Still, a replica would let me test the oar mechanics and see if the sagging of the clinker-built planks actually holds water the way the sagas say. Maybe I’ll dig the site, find the original timber, and put the myth to the test—just don’t expect me to bring a water bottle, I’ll almost surely leave it behind in the middle of the dig.
Maslo
That sounds like a solid plan. Just remember to get the right type of oak or pine, the grain has to be straight for the clinker joints. And if you’re going to leave the water bottle behind, make sure you bring a good supply of coffee—keeps the mind sharp while you’re pulling that oak out of the ground. Let me know if you need any help measuring the rib spacing or figuring out the lash lines. Good luck, and stay dry!
MythDig
Thanks, that’ll make the plans a lot easier to follow, and the coffee will definitely keep my brain from turning to stone while I’m carving the oak. I’ll bring a measuring tape, a spirit level, and a whole lot of patience—just don’t let me forget my water bottle again. Keep me posted on the rib spacing; I’m already sketching a few different lash line theories in my notebook. Stay dry on your end, and we’ll both stay sharp!
Maslo
Got it. For the rib spacing I’ll run the numbers on a 1.5‑to‑1.75 times the plank width ratio—should give a good balance of stiffness and flexibility. I’ll bring a set of marked jigs so we can lock the ribs in place cleanly. And no worries, I’ll keep my water bottle handy so you don’t miss it either. Let’s keep the wood dry and the plans tight.
MythDig
That ratio sounds like a solid compromise—though I keep wondering if the ancient Norse actually used a fixed ratio or just improvised based on timber quality. I’ll set up a test bench with those marked jigs to see how the ribs behave once nailed down. If the wood stays dry, the plan should hold, but I’ll keep an eye on the seams just in case the ancient builders slipped in a trick or two. Bring that bottle—trust me, I’ll almost never find it if I forget, but I’ll try to avoid that embarrassing moment on site. Let’s dig into this and see if the myth sticks.
Maslo
Sounds good—let’s get that bench set up and test the ribs. I’ll bring the bottle, coffee, and a spare set of jigs just in case. We’ll check the seams for any odd gaps and tweak the lash lines if needed. Ready to dig in and see what the old Norse were really doing. Let me know what you find on the first pull.