Poveiro (boat)
Encyclopedia
The Poveiro is a genre of fishing vessel
, for coastal and deep sea fishing, mostly used in Northern Portugal from the Douro river till Galicia by the people of Póvoa de Varzim
, its fisher colonies along the coast, and related communities in Northern Portugal.
It is characterized by a wide flat-bottom, curved stem and a deep helm. There were diverse boats with different sizes, uses and shapes, including catraia pequena, catraia grande, caíco and the most notable of which, the Lancha Poveira.
The Lancha Poveira or Lancha Poveira do Alto was a large ship adapted to deep waters and used for hake-fishing. The largest of which had twelve oars, usually four to seven oars, and could carry 2 to 32 men. Each boat carried carvings, namely a sigla poveira
mark for individual boat identification and magical-religious protection at sea. The Lancha Poveira was considered by Lixa Filgueiras and Raul Brandão to be descendant from the Viking longboats, keeping all the longboat features but without a long stern and bow. The ship carried one mast with a Latin sail for better maneuvering.
The ancient shipbuilding knowledge preserved in Poveiro boats was, most possibly, due to the endogamy practice in Póvoa de Varzim fisher community which protected several cultural traits specific of the town. Poveiro boats were widespread until mid-20th century, and its use spread to Brazil, Angola and Mozambique and even Galicia were Povoan fishing colonies were established. Since the middle of the 20th century, modern technology and, especially, the use of trawler
s dramatically reduced the number of Povoan boats.
Fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....
, for coastal and deep sea fishing, mostly used in Northern Portugal from the Douro river till Galicia by the people of Póvoa de Varzim
Culture of Póvoa de Varzim
The culture of Póvoa de Varzim, in Portugal, deriving from the different working classes and with influences arriving from the maritime route from Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea is ancient and culturally unique. The most charismatic of its communities, formerly overwhelmingly dominant, is the...
, its fisher colonies along the coast, and related communities in Northern Portugal.
It is characterized by a wide flat-bottom, curved stem and a deep helm. There were diverse boats with different sizes, uses and shapes, including catraia pequena, catraia grande, caíco and the most notable of which, the Lancha Poveira.
The Lancha Poveira or Lancha Poveira do Alto was a large ship adapted to deep waters and used for hake-fishing. The largest of which had twelve oars, usually four to seven oars, and could carry 2 to 32 men. Each boat carried carvings, namely a sigla poveira
Siglas poveiras
The siglas poveiras is a proto-writing system that has been used by the local community of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal for many generations. The siglas were primarily used as a signature for family coat-of-arms in order to mark family belongings...
mark for individual boat identification and magical-religious protection at sea. The Lancha Poveira was considered by Lixa Filgueiras and Raul Brandão to be descendant from the Viking longboats, keeping all the longboat features but without a long stern and bow. The ship carried one mast with a Latin sail for better maneuvering.
The ancient shipbuilding knowledge preserved in Poveiro boats was, most possibly, due to the endogamy practice in Póvoa de Varzim fisher community which protected several cultural traits specific of the town. Poveiro boats were widespread until mid-20th century, and its use spread to Brazil, Angola and Mozambique and even Galicia were Povoan fishing colonies were established. Since the middle of the 20th century, modern technology and, especially, the use of trawler
Trawler
A fishing trawler is a commercial fishing vessel designed to operate fishing trawls. Trawling is a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water behind one or more trawlers. Trawls are fishing nets that are pulled along the bottom of the sea or in midwater...
s dramatically reduced the number of Povoan boats.
External links
- Lancha Poveira do Alto official website
- Lancha Poveira