Water, Wood and Fire

Along her sides, the shape of the hull of a gozzo is so curve that it exceeds the natural flexibility of a wooden plank. To force it into place can cause breaks or, even worse, sudden failure under stress.

Then an archaic metod is employed, the same for thousands years, probably since Phoenicians and Achaeans built the first wooden ships.

Antonio, the young but experienced apprentice, rubs slowly and carefully the plank with a wet rag, while Michele Cafiero lights a fire with cut out chips in an iron bucket.
The wood of the plank, soaked in water, becomes more flexible. But it is not enough, yet. With extreme caution, Michele put the plank into the flames, and turns it up. The water soaks into the fibers of the wood, warms up and warms the already softened fibers. If the plank seems about to dry up, Michele pulls it out of the fire and Antonio soaks it again, in a game of balance between water and fire. When the wood looks like it's exuding steam, Michele hurries up to Mast'Antonio, waiting for him by the hull of the gozzo: with a few, quick but deliberate moves, they fasten the first plank, the "garboard", still steaming, on the ribs, and enforce it in place against the side of the keel with wedges and clamps. They drill holes, nail it and, when the plank will dry up its fibers will stay deformed into the position enforced at high temperature, but not weakened. Later, carpenters and apprentice will repeat the whole operation with the second plank.