The prospects of wood as a shipbuilding material in Croatia

In Croatian shipbuilding practice, wood has been used as traditional and often irreplaceable material, mainly in the construction of boats and smaller fishing and passenger ships. The archeological remains of the monoxyls, conduras and galleys found in the Adriatic, some of which date back to the antic period, confirm the wide spread use of wood and its quality in the region as well. It is estimated that at least half of registered large boats and small ships in Croatia are made of wood. In this article, a review of the wood species that are traditionally used in Croatian shipyards for the construction of wooden boats and ships is presented. Beside the types of ships suitable for the wooden construction of hull, applicable structural connections and details are described. Specific problems related to appropriate selection of wood species and to the joining of constructions elements are also mentioned. Described are the main marine borers living in the Adriatic Sea. Finally, presented are some of the traditional preventive methods for the protection of shipbuilding wood, as well as some new preservatives and methods.