History of South-Savo and Lake Saimaa ON THE PIER Living on the shores of Lake Saimaa

Saimaa becomes inhabited Savo between East and West Town built on islands Expanding town The harbour Strait Kyrönsalmi Tarburning Ironworks Agriculture Life in the archipelago Savo dwelling Villas Sääminki parish Church boats Savo boats Boats for every occasion Tar steamers Constructing a tar steamer Life on tar steamers Winter journeys   CONSTRUCTING A TAR STEAMER Most tar steamers were constructed at small docks. Iron and steel vessels were, however, manufactured at engineering works especially in Varkaus and Joroinen. The six hundred tree trunks required for a tar steamer were felled at the end of autumn. The most difficult task was to find three hundred beets for the frames. Finest beets were obtained from spruces that grew on marshy terrain. Originally, all the wood was sawn by the builders themselves, while the iron was forged by a smith. In the 1920’s, sawmills were used, and other materials were purchased at an ironmonger’s. Construction work was supervised by self-taught barge masters, renowned characters including: Pekka Väkevä from Taipalsaari, Aleksanteri Hintsanen from Sulkava and Pekka Päivinen from Sääminki. An average of a dozen builders were required. The first phase was to assemble wooden scaffolding to support the construction. The keel was carved out of the finest and longest wood, and the frame was attached to it. Iron frames were more commonly used in the 1920’s. Wooden planks were fastened edge to edge to the carvel joint. The seams were caulked with tar, which in turn was covered with hot pitch. Finally, the planks were laid down for the deck, the boat was painted, a steam engine and boiler were fitted at an engineering works, and a cabin was built. Before launching in the spring, the boat still needed to be tarred. After the survey or ‘screw voyage’, as it was called, it was time to pick up the first load. A well-constructed steam barge lasted for 10-20 years, often serving for even longer.

29.7.2005