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Stitching

What makes the ship's construction unique is its lack of nails: the wood planks are, in fact, sewn together.

This video shows the preparation of rope for an Omani Bateel demonstrating how the rope is woven and used to stitch the hull together, rendering it watertight and secure.

This is the same process that is used to make rope for the ship. The rope is made from coconut fibre known as coir. These coconut husks are soaked in salty water for up to 10 months and then separated, fashioned into strands, and woven into rope.

2:16 mins

25th February 2008

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