Small Wooden Rowboat - anno 1625 - Dutch Republic

From the dawn of history, humans have used boats to cross the water without getting their feet wet. From hollow tree canoes to polyester kayaks the, rowing boat, in its many forms, must be the most common boat seen on the water. Especially in the early times of the marshy dutch lowlands, with its many swamps, creeks, rivers and ponds, the rowboat was crucial to move people around.

The Hollandic Rowboat

In the late middle-ages a specific type of boat started appearing, likely based on the design of the Celtic cog. A small keel boat, with up-swept straight but pointy bow and stern and a flat bottom, perfect for the shallow swamps of Holland. The boat was build in both carvel and clinker style, and rowed with two oars.

1625 Engraving of "Woman in a rowing boat", Adriaen Pietersz. van de Venne, Rijksmuseum

Technical Details

This model can be used in real-time projects. All textures are PBR and are presented in a metalness-roughness workflow. The oars are rigged and ready for animation or can be used as separate models. Also added is a hull occluder shape that can be used as boolean or shader-base for cutting out the water inside the boat.