07/05/2026
Hopefully The Sutton Hoo Ships Company can find the right oak soon.
Finding the right oak has been one of the most challenging parts of this project. We are getting close to finishing the hull but the central sheer strake sections (top row of planking) need some very specific trees. We had thought we had already solved this but the trees that we received recently have not cleaved as hoped. These trees will be great for the internal fittings but it leaves us with the ongoing dilemma of finding what we need for the critical sheer strakes.
If you work in this area, know someone that does, or can simply share this message with your network we would be very grateful.
This is what we need:
• A mature oak of at least 1.2m diameter
• A long trunk with no branches at least 10m long
• No visible twist in the bark pattern
• No branching along the required length
• No felling restrictions or protection orders
We really don't want to delay next years launch so If you think you might know of an oak tree source, please email [email protected] (photographs would be a big bonus)
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
