Nautical Term: Carvel built

Definition of Carvel built

Carvel building is a traditional method of constructing wooden ships and boats. This technique is characterized by the use of planks that are fastened to the hull either through flush butt welding or butt strap riveting.

For example, a shipbuilder might say, This vessel is Carvel built, meaning the hull is made up of tightly joined planks that have been either welded or riveted to ensure a watertight seal.

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