A hundred years ago, that wonderful inland sea in the center of the Netherlands then called the Zuyderzee, served as the hunting grounds for the likes of this ?Botter?. Built from heavy oak planks and timbers, they navigated the shallow shoals by being flat bottomed, using leeboards hanging from their sides to counter drift. Fish were kept alive in a fish pen in the center of the cockpit. The sturdy mast was un-stayed, and the helmsman needed to carry some muscle to hold the rudder when there was a wild wind blowing.
Made by specialists trained in inlaid decks using precious wood and stitching perfect sails
