Gajeta 5.90 m long and 2.12 m wide was built by Šime and Ljube Filipi in Sukošan for the client Bepa from Kaprije in 1968. The construction of the gajeta is confirmed by the original record from their order book in which the dimensions of the future boat are specified, and the half-model according to which Šime and Ljube made the boat is also preserved. Gajeta changed several owners and several names also, and spent the longest time in the Radovčić family from Kaprije. Actually Vera Radovčić took care of the boat, she drove it, fished with the gajeta, while her husband Ante was a sailor. In 2013, she was sold to Mateo Pirjak in Jezera, on the island of Murter. He was obliged to…
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Argan
Argan is a wooden winch used for hauling boats out of the water for repairs. It is crafted from oak wood. At least five people are needed to start an argan, and the number of people needed to operate it depends on the size and weight of the boat. The two beams laid through the groove at the top are called arms and they are used for starting the device. The longer the beams, the larger the lever. When a boat is to be hauled out of the water, first a single unjulo rope is prepared, which is attached to the tracks under the boat. The tracks have two saddles to receive the boat, and an iron axle (ašpa) is placed over them, with an…
About Folk Costumes
Until the Second World War, skirts were worn of an old-fashioned type. Newer costumes are from the period after the war. The shirt was embroidered. Women knitted on a hook or on two spools (needles), with very thin sewing threads. Lace was bought afterwards. You have to do everything yourself. The huštani (type of skirt) were made of thick black linen bought from the stores. My father-in-law, when he was in Argentina, sent me material to make huštan. The huštan was on straps. When someone didn’t have enough strength, who was skinny, he would lose his clothes without strands to hold it. Materials for the shirt were bought. Who had money would buy lace, and who didn’t, had to make their own. Čenašić (decoration on…
The Story of Sandokan
In the last days of summer, we got a visit from Marino and Biserka Ivančić, the first owners of the Sandokan leut. They brought photos of his launch back in 1978. With lot of memories they talk about the agreement on the construction of the ship, the ideas they thought of when arranging the buy and the master who built it. The ship had a reputation. When they sailed with her on the Adriatic, everyone looked and admired her, they say. Sandokan, a leut 8.53 m long and 2.90 m in width, was made by the late Šime Jušić, a shipbuilder from Betina. They say they wanted a traditional leut as they saw it in Betina and Murter, but modernized and slightly different. Šime was…
Launch of the Leut “Kvarneriol”
Saturday, 12th of September In the shipyard Marin owned by the shipbuilder Ante Fržop, a boat type leut named Kvarneriol, 8 meters long and 3 meters wide, was launched. She has a 12-meter-long lantina (yard) and a 57 HP engine, registered for the transport of 12 people, equipped with a 150l oil tank and a 150l water tank, a toilet with a sink and a cooking area. Kvarneriol is made for several days of sailing and a longer stay at sea. The design is like one of our traditional boats – turned into a yacht, but still traditional because she can be paddled on two oars if there’s a need to. One oar on the bow, another oar on the stern. And you can also…
Contribution to Understanding the Shipbuilding in Betina
The villages Betina and Murter on the island of Murter were formed in the 14th and 15th century. Domestic population has practiced almost exclusively agriculture and cattle breeding since their inception. In the coming centuries, they expanded considerably their possessions by leasing the surrounding islands and the mainland as well as the Kornati and Žut – Sit island group. Owning a ship has become essential for every family. As far as we know, the first shipyard in Betina was founded by the shipbuilder family Filipi from Korčula in the mid-18th century, initiating the centuries-old tradition of building wooden boats. At the same time the shipbuilder family Uroda is very active in Betina along with the Filipi family. They mostly build wooden boats type gaeta, kaić,…
Brganja – Etimology of the Term
Brganja is a traditional tool for harvesting shells. It was made of a square metal construction with a strong net for the shells. All the metal pieces for this tool – brganja were made in local blacksmitheries while the boat owners made the net themselves. In the older days net was made out of copper wire while today it is made of a fishing net. Brganja was very important for locals, for their daily eating routine. What’s interesting is that people in Betina had more shells on their daily menu than fish. Nowadays a celebration festivity is being held every August in Betina. Celebrating the Festivity of Brganja is a dedication to all the hardworking people in Betina in the older days and their will to make…