Historically, boats were one of the first means of transportation invented, before the wheel. They were used for travel, commerce, fishing etc. The oldest boat was found in the Netherlands dating back to 8200-7600 BC. It is named the “Pesse Canoe” and was created with the trunk of a tree.
- Through the years boats have acquired different uses such as for entertainment purposes. Nowadays boats are used for short- or long-term rides at sea, with a specific starting and ending point or not, including a lot of the time, accommodation on board.
- Initially, boats were made with wood, bamboo, papyrus reeds and animal skin. Men used oars to set in motion the boat. Through the years, the few oarsmen that were moving the boat turned into a dozen and more.
- From the 19th century onwards, iron and steel were used in the construction of boats along with steam engines and paddles with propellers.
- Nowadays, boats are made with steel and many other materials, developed with cutting-edge technology.
Now, let’s dive into the history and culture of boats!
Venetian Boats: The Gondola
Gondola is one of the main cultural experiences in Venice and the symbol of the city. It has a very distinct shape and style. The Venetian lagoon is very shallow, hence why gondolas have flat bottoms so that the gondolier can easily navigate the boat. Gondolas have an asymmetric shape as the left side is larger than the right side. Consequently, the gondola when floating is tilted to the right. As a result, the gondolier creates balance by standing up on the left side of the boat. Usually, the single gondolier who navigates the boat uses one oar which is held by the Venetian oarlock called “Forcola”. A “Forcola” offers not only style and elegance to the boat but, is the secret to effortless rowing due to its design.
Deutsch boats: The Yacht
The word “yacht” comes from the Dutch word “jacht“ which means hunt. Yachts were small in size and fast in speed ships, that were mainly used by the Dutch navy to chase pirates and other criminals. In 1660, Charles II used a yacht for his transportation from the Netherlands, where he was in exile, to England. Since then, the yacht was associated with carrying VIPs and was used mainly for pleasure. Later, in 1661 a regatta took place with two competitors, Charles the II and the Duke of York, making yachting the sport of – literally – Kings. Today, yachts are an upscale activity mainly for prosperous people used for recreational purposes.
If you are fascinated by boats and boat rides make sure to contact Safari Cyprus, for an unforgettable experience.