The Rudder
The rudders on Viking ships were simple in design. They were
basically an oar attached to the side at the stern of the ship. The blade end of the
rudder is lower in the water than the keel. At the opposite end would be attached
the tiller bar that was used by the helmsman to control the angle of the rudder blade.
At the its midpoint, the rudder pivots on a wart. The rudder would be attached to the wart by a willow branch or rope. In the Hjemkomst's case, it is attached by a rope. The wart would allow the helmsman to pivot the rudder above the keel, or the waterline, so that the ship can be easily beached, and for easier navigation in shallow fjords or rivers.
The rudder of the Hjemkomst is 12.5 feet long with a 16 inch wide blade. The rudder is controlled by a tiller bar 40 inches in length.
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