With little arable land and
abundant fishing grounds,it is no wonder the Norwegians
turned to the sea. The necessities of offshore fishing soon
evolved into more distant voyages seeking peaceful trade
and violent conquest. As they roamed the ancient world,
the Norsemen became the world’s greatest shipbuilders
and the undisputed masters of the open sea, centuries before
Columbus. Their double-ended clinker-built hulls, made by
overlapping the strakes, produced exceptionally sturdy and
seaworthy craft.
By the 19th century, the little town of
Grimstad on the sunny Sørland coast grew into one
of Norway’s major marine centers, with as many as 150
boat builders and 40 shipyards at its peak. Among the many
boats launched from Grimstad’s docks was the sturdy
double-ended skiff called a sjekte (pronounced sheck-teh).
This durable but stylish craft served as a launch, cargo
hauler, fishing boat and family runabout. Although they
came in many sizes and configurations, the classic sjekte
was always wooden, double-ended and clinker-built –
a legacy of the ancient Viking ships.
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