2025
The Oselvar is Norway's national boat and in 2016 was the first Norwegian contribution to be included in the UNESCO list of good practices in the protection of intangible cultural heritage. In connection with this, Skald forlag and the Oselvarklubben are publishing the book Oselvar – the living boat.
The Oselvar is a traditional clinker-built wooden boat from Hordaland. The boat has been most common as a utility boat from Bømlo in the south to Fedje in the north, but examples of its use can be found along the entire Norwegian coast, on Shetland and on the Orkney Islands. With a still living tradition of building and using it, the boat type differs from many other traditional boats.
The book is the first comprehensive presentation of the diversity of the history of the Oselvaren, and presents a varied historical and technical material in popular science form. Much of this has not previously been published. The book contains text, images, tables, maps, figures and drawings and old photographs. Furthermore, the book contains folkloristic material with a large gallery of characters as well as a number of elements regarding intangible cultural heritage and action-based knowledge. The book reflects the coastal, sports and folk culture in Western Norway through several centuries, with detours along the entire Norwegian coast and abroad. The focus of the book is also forward in time, with practical advice for new boat users.
"This is a book that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who loves coastal culture."
"Fantastic visual material and a wealth of lexical detail make this book a journey through history."
"It's a lot of material collected between two covers, it's going to be hard to find anything new after this. Highly recommended."
"The book about Oselvaren is the most powerful work I have ever seen."
"You are left with the feeling that you are taking part in every single event in the history of Oselvaren throughout the 550 pages of the book. Simply a masterpiece!"
"The book is the ultimate wet dream of every wooden boat enthusiast around the coast. This cornucopia of a monumental work constitutes the first comprehensive presentation of the diversity of the history of the Oselvaren."
"The graphic design is fabulously done."
