The Knarr, also known as a knaar, knorr, or knörr, was shorter in length, higher and wider than a Viking longship and so more suitable for carrying large cargoes such as grain or timber.
How a Knarr was Constructed
Like the longship, the knarr was constructed from oak or pine using the clinker method. This method involved using long thin planks which were fastened with nails to a single keel, with each plank overlapping the next. Floor timbers were then attached to the keel and a deck added.
The knarr had a rectangular sail on a mast which was permanently fixed (unlike the mast of the longship) and, because it was such a robust and steady ship, was ideal for the longer trade and exploration voyages on which the Vikings embarked from the tenth century onwards.
The ship required five or more men to row it and was unable to berth on low landings such as beaches and so, a smaller boat had to be launched in order for the crew to land. However, because the knarr was less reliant on oarsmen, using instead wind power, it was more suitable for long sea journeys where oarsmen would tire during long periods of rowing. The knarr usually only needed to be rowed in and out of port.
Uses for the Viking Knarr Ship
The knarr was used primarily for transporting goods and people, either for trade or exploration. As a merchant ship, the knarr could used for long-distance trade, carrying slaves, wool, wheat, animal hides, jewellery, weapons, food and drink. It was also used as a supply vessel for Vikings who were established in the furthest outposts of Viking territories, bringing food, drink and clothing and returning with goods to trade elsewhere.
Some historians believe the Vikings reached North America using Knarr ships, which were the best suited of all vessels built by the Vikings for long-distance ocean travel. Although the longship was used for raiding and short-distance travel, its long shape gave it instability in heavy seas.
Discovery of the Skuldelev Wreck I in Denmark
A Viking knarr was excavated in 1957 in Denmark and was found to have all the properties of a typical Viking merchant vessel; high sides, plenty of room for cargo and spaces for oars at the front and back of the boat. The skuldelev wreck is now on display in the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde.
Source
Chartrand R, Durham K, Harrison M, Heath I The Vikings, Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder [Osprey publishing, 2006]
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