The new Gokstad boat is a reconstruction of the largest of three boats found in the famous Viking ship burial, the Gokstad grave in Norway. It complements the smallest Gokstad boat, which the Viking Ship Museum delivered to the American museum in 2023, further strengthening the transatlantic dissemination of Nordic maritime heritage.
Culmination of six months of craftsmanship
After six months of intensive work, the boatbuilders at the Viking Ship Museum can now step back and admire the result: an almost 10-meter-long reconstruction of one of the three boats discovered in the renowned Gokstad burial. The boat has been built with great precision and respect for the original materials and techniques.
But there’s little time to enjoy the result – the boat will soon be packed into a 40-foot container and shipped to California.
From Roskilde to Solvang – Nordic heritage on American soil
The Solvang Viking Museum commissioned the reconstruction as part of its mission to promote Nordic cultural heritage in America. Located in the town of Solvang, founded by Danish immigrants in 1911, the museum already houses one Gokstad boat. The smallest of the three was delivered by the Viking Ship Museum in 2023 – and with the new boat, the collection gains an important addition.
“The Viking ship helps keep the connection to Denmark alive. Once it arrives, we’ll have two Viking boats in our collection in Solvang. They serve as a physical manifestation of the impressive boatbuilding technology that enabled people in the Viking Age to travel far and wide – even to North America,” says René Gross Kærskov, founder of the museum.
The Gokstad Ship – a glimpse into the past
The Gokstad ship was excavated in 1880 near the Oslo Fjord and dates back to around the year 900. The 23-meter-long vessel was found in a burial mound, where a prominent man was laid to rest with lavish grave goods – including 64 shields, 12 horses, eight dogs, two peacocks, and three smaller boats.
The new boat is a reconstruction of the largest of these three smaller vessels:
Length: 9.77 meters
Width: 1.86 meters
Sail area: Approx. 14 m²
Oars: 5 pairs (10 rowers)
Materials: Primarily oak, with one strake of pine
Traditional craftsmanship
The boat is built from radially split oak and tangentially split pine, with a mast and yard made of spruce. The sail is hand-sewn from linen and dyed with yellow and red ochre – just like in Viking times.
“We’ve reconstructed the boat as close to the original as possible, but to save the American museum labour costs, we’ve also used modern tools where it doesn’t affect the quality or appearance,” explains Søren Nielsen, project manager for the Gokstad boat build.
Living heritage
The Viking Ship Museum’s boatyard doesn’t only build for museums. Reconstructions and clinker-built wooden boats are also delivered to private individuals and associations who wish to sail or exhibit traditionally built vessels.
“Building boats for private customers is an important part of the museum’s vision to keep the intangible heritage of clinker-built boats alive,” says Martin Dael, Team Leader of the boatyard.
Launch Program
Date: Wednesday, August 13 at 10:00 AM
Location: Viking Ship Museum’s boatyard, Vindeboder 12, Roskilde
- Welcome and speeches
- Naming ceremony and launch from the slipway
- First row on Roskilde Fjord