in Roslagen ( Coastal area east of Uppsala )

The original is, at this stage, the best preserved vessel found from the Viking time to the Middle ages. This boat can tell us how boats and ships were built in this area (Roslagen) at that time.

The original was found in 1898 on a farm in a place called Söderby-Karl. This used to be a waterway from Norrtälje Bay. The boat was dated from 1140 + or – 70 years, using a method called C14.

About 1000 years ago, some how, this boat was left or sunk near the shore, which is now called Söderby-Karl. In 1898 the farmer Törnquist was digging a trench in his field. He dug this trench right through the remains of the boat. Not until a year later, another farmer Erik Ersson, who was very interested in history, gathered all the pieces and took them to a barn and stored them.

Thirty years later, these boat parts were shown in a Home-Museum "Erikskulle" in Söderby-Karl

north of Norrtälje. They still could not judge the age, so it was stored again.

In 1985, Archeologist, Gunilla Larsson "discovered the boat again" and was able to put a date on this discovery.

During the period 1993-94 boat builder Axel Lindberg restored the vessel as an exhibit at the

Sea Museum in Stockholm. About 75% of the original was able to be used. Things like Oars, Mast, Sails etc., were missing. Today she is back in Roslagen at Erikskulle Home Museum.

Because of access to the reconstructed original, this has made it a lot easier to build a nearly exact copy. This construction has been a great insight into the methods, tools and materials of pre middle ages. As a result, copies of original tools were made to carry out the project. Oak was used and cut from logs using some of these tools eg. Adz and axe for planking, which is 15-20 mm. thick and cut along the grain.

The hull made from these oak planks, is of Klinker style held by Juniper pegs. Several 100 nails and rivets which have been hand forged and tar burnt were used. To get the hull to the correct shape, a jig was first constructed.

Launching and naming took place in Spring 1998 by Margareta Lindskog,

Erik Erssons great, great, great grandchild, 100 years after the digging of the ditch by Törnqvist.

Tälja is a light, strong, flexible vessel unlike it’s cousins from the west coast of Scandinavia. She is of a type that can be dragged over land and low water areas. The larger west coast and southern vessels were more of a sea going, merchant ship type.

Tälja, with her mast, rigging and sails, shows good sailing characteristics both on and off the wind.

Viksbåten association has a role of evaluating the abilities of the boat and thereby discovering the uses of the original.

Today the association’s members can look back on many great projects and voyages that Tälja has been involved in and appreciated by Tourists, Historians, Archeologists and boat people in general.

Cultural Exhibitions in Stockholm and Birka 1998

Sailing east to Estland 1999

Pilgrim 2000 to Huseby

Viking Sail 2000 in Canada

Historic Sail 2002 in Stockholm

Middle Age Week in Gotland 2002

Ledungskampen 2002 in Trosa

Tälja has been in several rowing and sailing races for wooden boats from Stockholm to Vaxholm

Mailman’s rowing route from Grisslehamn to Ekerö on Åland.

The association also does trips to teach boat handling and sailing and of course enjoy a most unique sailing trip.

Length 9.35m

Width 2.20m

Weight 700kg

Sail area 16 sq.m

Join our Association Postgiro 685937-5

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