Viking Tents:

The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo has wooden tent frames from the Oseberg and Gokstad ship burials. Our copies have been modified so that they can be pitched on land (with the addition of a horizontal plank at each end), and of suitable size. Diagramatic End View:

Key: Typically 45 - 60 degrees to horizontal. A steeper roof sheds water better. A flatter roof covers more ground, but the edges may not be particularly useful. Work from a multiple of the cloth width, including seams. This is somewhat nominal as the internal length will be slightly shorter (typically 5 - 20 cm), whilst the tent frame projects. Centre-to-centre on the frame. Centre-to-centre on the frame. Centre-to-centre on the frame, it is fairly close to headroom. Excluding the overlap. A rope reinforced fold used to pull the fabric down (a similar arrangement can be used at the front and rear). As an overhang, it also shelters the sidewalls. Combined sidewall and edge of the floor. It prevents draughts.

angle

L D W H R O S I

length diagonal width height roof overlap sodcloth

internal width More or less useable width inside.

When designing a tent, consider what you want to use it for and how you intend to transport it. Some provision must be made to stop the ridge moving forwards or backwards. The neatest method is to tie a rope from each end of the ridge pole to the other end(s) of one (or both) side poles. If the roof is held taut, it will shed water better, but a lot of fixing points require longer to set up or dismantle. Door flaps should have a good overlap (they can also provide additional shelter in front of the tent). If a large tent can be opened at each end, it can be assembled on the ground before being raised. Additional provision can be made to raise one side of the roof. Calculations: How much fabric to use. Assuming 1 m wide fabric (excluding seams); length (in metres) and area (in square metres) are roughly equivalent. This is reasonable as a lot of tenting canvas is 102 cm wide. Estimates include seams, overlaps and a small amount of wastage. All lengths in metres. A: 45 50 60 50 60 50 60 50 60 50 60 50 60 50 50 60 L: 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 D: 1.5 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.7 2.7 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 W: 2.1 2.3 1.8 2.7 2.1 2.7 2.1 3.1 2.4 3.5 2.7 3.9 3.0 3.9 5.1 4.0 H: 1.05 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.3 3.1 3.5 R: 1.4 1.7 1.7 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.7 3.7 3.7 O: 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 S: 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.8 I: 2.0 2.2 1.7 2.6 2.0 2.6 2.0 2.8 2.2 3.2 2.5 3.5 2.7 3.5 4.8 3.7 Total (m): 14 19 17 23 21 26 24 34 32 42 38 49 45 56 87 80 O&T's old Julie's Comments: smallest

50

5.0

4.0

5.1

3.1

3.7

0.1

0.8

4.8

96

These are guidelines; obviously one can design a tent of any size or roof pitch. Sides = 2L(R + 2O + S). Doors = 2.5(WH + IS). Total = Sides + Doors.
< STARTSIDE < English < Dansk < Francais