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What are the precise dimensions of the Vasa?

can you tell me the height of each floor ? And how many floor have the Vasa ? What is the weight of each floor ? And, what is the height of each mast ?

Thank you for you time
Julie

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  • Dear Julie,

    That is a difficult question to answer accurately, since many of the dimensions varied. For example, the upper gundeck is 1.7 meters tall at the bow, 1.9 meters amidships, and 1.85 meters near the stern.

    The ship has seven levels in all. Four of these extend the length of the ship. These are the hold, which varies in height between 1.8 m and 2.9 m, the orlop (1.1 m to 1.4 m), the lower gundeck (1.6 to 1.7 m), and the upper gundeck (dimensions above). The upper deck, which extends over about two thirds of the length is open to the sky. In the sterncastle, there are three levels. The upper cabin has a height of 1.8 to 1.9 m, the poop cabin is only 1.5 m tall, and the poop deck is open to the sky.

    We cannnot yet accurately calculate the weight of each deck, due to the complex structure.

    The mast heights (from the bottom of the keel) are:
    Foremast:47.0 m
    Mainmast: 52.4 m
    Mizzenmast: 39.4 m
    These heights are estimates, since the upper parts of the masts did not survive and we have reconstructed the length on the basis of rigging rules from the period.
     
    Fred Hocker
  • What types of wood/species of tree were used in Vasa construction? Excuse me if this is covered elsewhere. Thank-you.
    R. A. Varga
  • All of the structural timbers in Vasa are of oak, either Quercus robur or Q. petraea. Some of the deck planking (the upper deck and orlop) is pine (Pinus sylvestris), as are most of the interior partitions and the masts. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is used for much of the rigging hardware, such as block and deadeyes, and alder (Alnus spp.) is found in the pump tubes, belaying pins and a few other odd items. The sculptures area a mix, a little over half in oak, most of the rest pine, with a few in limewood (Tilia chordata). A small number of things are made in other species, such as beech (Fagus sylvatica) and birch (Betula pendula). In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish wood type when the material has been waterlogged and then conserved with polyethylene glycol. Birch and alder are difficult to tell apart, for example.
    Fred
  • Can you tell me Hull thickness of Vasa ? Thx
    Helldog
  • The base thickness of the hull varies, thickest at the keel, where the fundamental structure of planking, frames and ceiling is 46-50 cm thick. It tapers gradually to a total of about 38 cm at the level of the upper deck. Where the wales cross the frames in the area of the gundecks, they add an additional 8-10 cm to the thickness. Where the deck is reinforced by knees, riders and other internal timbers, these can add up to 60 cm more.
    Fred

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