[Sidenote: III 120]
This boat has a long, fine bow; the stern, on the other hand, is
narrow. The hull above the bends falls in sharply. The stem is
straight and very much inclined. At the square upper end of the stem
is a sheave, one side of which rests on the stem and the other side
on a bracket (the “snoes”) which is made firm to the stem. The boat
carries a fish tank and has near the bow a cuddy which serves as a
lodging. Although the “Schokkers” were originally open at the middle,
some are to be found at the present time of larger size and closed. The
“Schokker” has at the bow a small deck, called “kootje”.
The “Schokker” carries lee boards and a mast placed at four fifths of
the length of the vessel, at the position of the main frame. It is
26.10 m. long, 4.48 m. beam and draws 0.98 m. It is fore and aft rigged
(“bazaantuig”) with a short, curved boom and a large fore staysail
which is attached to the side abaft the mast, consequently without any
travelling bar. This latter is sometimes to be found, however, in these
latter times. A jib may be set on the bowsprit. The hull was clinker
built formerly, now it is frequently carvel built. It is a very old
type of vessel, but the large models only date; however, from the XIXth
century. Neither ~Witsen~ nor ~Van Yk~ speaks of them, although they
were already in existence in their time, for drawings of them appear on
the stretchers of the reformed church at Workum which dates from about
1600.
[Sidenote: II 203]
[Sidenote: III 125]
The “Schokker” comes originally from the Zuyderzee and especially from
the shores of Overijssel (Vollenhoven), of Schokland (probably of Urk
also) and of Enkhuizen.
According to common report, the island of Schokland is said to have
obtained its name from that of the “Schokkers”.
Its straight, inclined stem separates this boat from the type of the
other fishing vessels of the Zuyderzee, with the exception of the
“Haringschuit”.