Submarine

BBC “Building the Impossible”. Marine Film Services Ltd was commissioned to build and test a replica 1621 rowed submarine. The culmination of months of hard work resulted in successful underwater trials on Eton Dorney rowing lake.

The submarine was constructed from two large oak trees using traditional boat building techniques. There were a few compromises using modern materials to save money and for health and safety reasons but we proved that with the boat building skills and materials available the submarine could have been built in 1621. A simple flooding ballasting system with a pump, greased leather rowlocks, hydroplanes, rudders etc were all tested.

The interior when we tested it including 7tonnes of lead shot.

More boats in our Action Collection