Laying the Keel

The keel is the fundamental structural member of a wooden ship. This diagram shows how the keel is put together, particularly when a single timber cannot be found to make the keel out of one piece. For this example, the keel is about 12" wide and the pieces are fastened at scarf joints with bolts.

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 99. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.