Dutch Barge Opgeboeide bol or Bolle with board

  • equipped with a very low bulwark over the entire length of the ship
  • bulwark widen at the head and buttocks
  • on the bulwark usually a wooden setting board
  • a gate in the bulwark near the deckhouse
  • rubbing strike of flat-semi-circular profile at deck height

The Opgeboeide Bol is a graceful ship to see. Well-painted, it is a pleasure to the eye. The underwater ship was tarred black. The bow, the bulwark, and the stern were mostly Havana brown, while the rubbing strike and the decking were painted black. On the bow, there was a white-painted pine set board with a waterline and ogee. On the part of the set board for the standing rigging, next to the forecastle, were the name of the ship, the place of origin, the name of the captain, and the registration number; and then there was also room for the year of construction and the tonnage. On the forecastle, the water barrel was placed next to the mast box.

The cheeks of the clamped mast box were filled with white-painted oak, on which a few clamps were applied. At the front of the deck stood the windlass. This was equipped with a steel wire drum and was used to pull the ship over "current bumps"; a current bump occurs about 50 to 100 meters on the low side of the lock. By the water, mud is loosened, which sinks further and forms the current bump.

The equipment of the ship also included a cat anchor. This anchor, with the pulling wire on it, was pushed into the wall and by now hauling in the wire, the ship was pulled forward and over the bump. This method was also used to get a loaded ship out of a shallow bay. Because the wall edges were torn off, the farmers were not very happy with this, so usually the trick with the whip car was applied.

The ship was also equipped with a stock anchor. This was placed on deck with the help of the anchor davit. The mast was raised with the windlass, but with the help of the counterweight (weighing). 

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