The 9^th to 13^th century Scandinavian longships were sea vessels used for trade, exploration and for the Vikings, warfare.

A longship was built long and narrow with a shallow-draft hull which allowed the vessel to traverse water ways of little depth and could make beach landings.  They were “clinker” built, which means they were completed with little or no written diagrams from the keel up.  The hull planks were tapered, overlapped and tied together to create a ship that could twist and flex in the waves.  The light wooden composition was built for speed and agility, allowing long ocean voyages and reliability in rough seas.  The symmetrical bow/stern had carved figureheads and the double-ended shape allowed the vessel to reverse and change direction quickly without having to turn around. The lumber for the ship was milled for strength and a uniform bend allowing the material to expand at an even rate of expansion and contraction in water.  The hulls were water proofed in the fall season with a pine tar, curing and drying over the winter before being sea worthy.

Longships were typically owned by coastal farmers due to their utility and the Vikings who cherished the boats advantages in warfare. With so many qualities blended into one, the longship was the premier design and unrivaled for centuries.

LONGSHIPDESIGN is inspired by the work of the ancient shipbuilders and the functional designs of those sea vessels.  An emblem of a longship is stamped on every board to honor their craftsmanship.