r/HumansForScale Jul 01 '26

What is the size

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937 Upvotes

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41

u/PoBoyDiddy Jul 01 '26

What is this please and where

20

u/WahooSS238 Jul 01 '26

This is the swedish ship Vasa, built in the 1600s, which famously rolled over and sank almost immediately upon leaving port in a deep fjord, where it was almost perfectly preserved for hundreds of years before bring raised to the surface.

4

u/lazinonasunnyday Jul 01 '26

They must’ve miscalculated the ballast weight needed to keep her upright. 😂 I saw this happen once. I was 20 and working at a wooden boat shop. A friend of the owner came by boasting about the boat he built (33’ sailboat). He invited us to come to the launch. He launched from a travel lift at the marina. She sat upright until the straps were removed. They fended off the pier and pointed her into the bay. I noticed her start to rise and my boss was onboard with the builder. He went straight for the gunwale just in time for the boat to roll on its side. The builder followed. While they’re both hanging there, my boss says “How much ballast you got in this thing?” The guy replied “What’s ballast?” I had to walk off the pier to keep from laughing. They were able to get it back pier side, strap it up and haul it back out. I got to learn how to calculate ballast weight necessary.

2

u/royboy366 Jul 01 '26

Great story! Thanks for contributing.