Noahs Ark TOTB (approx. 1250 words)
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THE BOW AND STERN
Why the fancy bow and stern?
The design of the bow and stern are conspicuous. But they are not a lot of extra work compared to the construction of a seagoing ship 300 cubits in length.
Their purpose is to help align the ark with the wind to let the waves pass through the stern. Without it, the vessel would find itself locked in a beam sea, side-on to the dominant waves.
To get this to work on the ark;
1. Rounded ends for comfort and easier to steer
2. Offset between immersed and exposed lateral areas for wind steering
3. Harness the following wind for a little forward motion to stabilize and hold direction
It works a bit like a weather vane.
THE STERN OF THE ARK NEARS COMPLETION.
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The worst waves are fully developed seas where the waves have reached their maximum size for a given wind speed.
But there is more to the story.
At the height of the global flood there was not a single land mass to block the wind. The deep water allowed waves to travel unhindered. So in Genesis 8:1 when God “made a wind to pass over the earth” there was nothing but the friction of the water to lessen the waves.
Large long waves could travel great distances, and reach the ark as “swell”, regardless of the direction of the local wind. These swells could hit the ark from the side, and there’s no way to avoid them.
With swells from every direction, the ark would experience a “random sea state”. Such was the assumption for the scientists at KRISO, one of Korea’s top ship research centers. They calculated an extraordinary sea limit of 47.5m waves before the ark would reach a heel angle of 31o. But even then it would stay afloat, the water only having reached the edge of the deck. So the ark passed seaworthy tests with flying colors.
Yet here we have the added advantages of a larger cubit and higher buoyancy, both of which are more likely anyway. So this version of Noah’s ark would handle waves from any direction even better than the ark of the Hong study.
LONG WAVES CAN TRAVEL VAST DISTANCES
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DISTANT SWELLS
Higher waves are one thing, but the steepness of the waves is the greater menace. The ark, or any vessel for that matter, can happy ride over enormous waves with a shallow slope. Distant swells favor longer wavelengths while the shorter, steeper waves die out more quickly. So when a distant swell reaches the ark, these waves will tend to be less steep, and less dangerous.
Another factor for waves travelling long distances during the flood is floating debris. Mats of vegetation, uprooted trees and other matter tend to suppress the waves.
So the risk from distant swells is secondary. Local waves are most likely the steepest, so the added precaution of steering with the wind is well worth the effort. Yet even without a steering wind, the ark will perform in a random sea state just like the ark in the Hong study.
So if the details of the bow and stern are only an extra precaution, why can’t they be smaller and more subtle?
This system only works if the turning effect of the wind is overcomes the turning effect of the waves. The wind must overcome the tendency of the waves to lock the vessel sideways to the waves. If not, it is just a waste of time. On the other extreme, what happens if these features are oversize? Nothing much. The vessel will simply track with the wind a little tighter.
SWELLS FROM TWO DISTANT STORMS
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ADDING TO SCRIPTURE?
Isn’t this bow and stern detail guilty of adding to scripture?
The Bible warns against adding to scripture. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, Deut 4:2.Imagine if we were to apply this rule to Noah’s ark bybanning any interpretation of the text. With nothing but explicitdetails,how would the ark look?
We have thedimensionsbut not the shape, soeven a rectangular boxis adding to scripture. And there are manyother detailslike this.
How big is the door, and where on the side is it exactly?
Did you know that even the three decks is a well educated guess? Scripture never actually says “decks” or “levels”. So we are stuck with an ark of unknown shape, with lower, second and third "somethings-or-others".
It is clear that we are to use our God-ordained imagination to fill in the gaps. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Prov 25:2
The Ark Encounter might look like a ship, but it is more like a giantlifeboat.To optimizefor awind-driven sea isa logical outcome of the ship-like proportions and the wind of Genesis 8:1.
Some claim that Noah could skip the seaworthy issues because God will rescue him no matter what he built. After all, “It only had to float”. So in heavy seas, whenthe half-way good enough ark begins to leak, we make it God's job to keep it afloat.Miraculous intervention. And isn’t that adding to scripture?
STRICT DEPICTION OF NOAH’S ARK WHERE INTERPRETATION IS FORBIDDEN:
WE KNOW;
* THE dIMENSIONS,, BUT NOT SHAPE
* IT IS MADE OF AN UNKNOWN WOOD
* IT HAS A DOOR OF UNKNOWN SIZE THAT FITS SOMEWHERE IN THE SIDE,
* tHERE IS A MIDDAY-LIGHT THAT IS ONE CUBIT FROM ABOVE.
* IT IS COVERED INSIDE AND OUT
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STEADY AS SHE GOES
· How it all works for the voyage;
· The stern catches the water like a fixed rudder
· Keels deepen sternwards to help grip the water
· Outboard keels dampen the roll
· Triple keels provide launch and grounding protection
· Keels stabilize for construction and grounding
· 5th layer of planking protects from abrasion
· 4th layer protects from floating debris
· Bilge radius increases strength and impact tolerance
· Rounded bow steers more freely with the wind
· Narrowed stern cuts through waves in a following sea
· Sheer and flare of the hull reduce waves over deck
· If all else fails, a high freeboard (height of deck above the water) handles waves from any direction
This is not, of course, the only possible design for Noah’s Ark. Other solutions could also fit the Genesis account. Even a simple box might survive. But since every design requires some interpretation, why not consider a more appropriate solution for such a critical mission?
<Label> Bow designed to catch the wind
<Label>Entry door is on second deck but sealed by God
<Label>Additional restaurant makes the ark a little taller than 30 cubits
<Label>Direction of travel
Label>Bow
Label>Stern
THE ARK ENCOUNTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN KENTUCKY
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STAYING IN ONE PIECE
The Ark Encounter is a true timber framed structure, but it is not a floating replica. Both hulls look strikingly similar and even the internal structures match up quite well. But one hidden detail gives it away. The wall of the Ark Encounter is only 2 inches thick withsparseframing of20 inches.In contrast, Noah’s vessel has 20 inches of planking ina near solid wall of timber some 70 inches thick.
Label> 3 layers of planking for structural integrity
Label>4th layer of planking for protection against floating debris
Label>5th layer of planking for abrasion and grounding
Label>Bilge radius for strength and impact tolerance
Label>Outer keel
Label>Planking layers 1,2,3,4 & 5
Label>Mortise and tenon edge-jointed planking
Label>Frame
Label>Frame chock
Label> Inner ceiling and edge keys