Gulianka (boat)

The name probably arose in the Soviet period, in the first half of the 20th century , to indicate the type of makeshift boats of large sizes (usually 6-12 meters long and 2-3 meters wide), made of wood in coastal villages.

In the 70s , a separate project of such a vessel was developed at the Saratov Shipyard, and for several years, partying was carried out by the factory to order from metal. The boats manufactured at the factory were distinguished by beauty and convenience, a large and light cabin, a spacious deck, exceptional strength, but had a significant drawback: the midship (the widest part of the vessel) was shifted closer to the bow , therefore, when installing a heavier and more powerful engine, feed sagged and dragged water along, significantly limiting the course. Because of this, it was necessary to pay special attention to the distribution of weight when loading the vessel. In terms of their driving performance and “grace” on the water, these vessels were inferior to some of the wooden ones made by highly skilled craftsmen from the Volga villages. Also, such boats were produced in the Azov shipyard.

At present, partying is gaining new life and popularity in the Middle and Lower Volga. The production of which is gaining new momentum.

Revelers are made of both wood and metal . The classic party was made of wood. The keel, stem , stern , frames (kopony) were made of oak , and the keel was upholstered from below with 2-3 mm thick metal. The casing consisted of specially selected boards of coniferous resinous species 30 mm thick, and was attached to the skeleton with copper or steel nails. The metal vessels had a welded construction, the entire hull was made of cold-rolled steel, slightly corroding . Quite often, stainless steels were used . The thickness of the steel cladding is an average of 2.5 mm. The engine is located in a special lockable compartment (locker), which also stores tools, spare parts and everything necessary for the maintenance of the vessel.

A simple, reliable and durable stationary engine of the L-6, L12 type, used in generator sets, or automobile , was usually installed on the party, there were also diesel types 2-Ch, 4-Ch, or tractor. Cooling was carried out with outboard water entering the engine using a trap (gravity flow), or using an engine pump ; water was discharged back into the river along with the exhaust gases through the exhaust pipe. Behind the engine, at the stern , there is a steering compartment, from a height of which the steering could easily view the water area while operating the vessel. Often the helmsman's seat was in the bow of the cockpit, where the helm was installed and the engine remote control post. In the middle (in the middle), there is an open passenger compartment ( cockpit ) with side wooden benches for 8-10 seats. Each boat was necessarily equipped with a hook and long wooden oars with a counterweight .

Most parties have cabins in the bow compartment for 3-5 berths. However, there is also a no-choice option, which significantly increases the number of seats in the cockpit: such boats are used to carry passengers.

Benefits

Gulianka is able to take on board up to several tons of cargo, is a convenient type of vessel for recreation, fishing, hunting, travel, transportation of people and goods. The speed of such a vessel averages 12-15 km / h.

When installing a low-power engine, for example, L-6 (6 hp ), an average eight-meter outdoor party, with good contours and a well-chosen screw , moves through the water at a speed of 12 km / h, with a fuel consumption of 12-15 liters per summer daylight , with an almost constant operation of the engine. The low construction of the vessel saves it from excessive windage and allows you to easily move on a low-power engine against a strong wind in a significant storm . The positive qualities of a party can also be attributed to a long free run-out (inertia movement with the engine turned off), up to several hundred meters in smooth water. Also, a heavy, voluminous vessel confidently copes with a large oncoming wave.

It should be especially noted that some well-designed medium-sized vessels of this type are capable of overcoming water with a depth of only 15-20 cm.

Accidents on such ships are extremely rare. The powerful stem and skeleton, covered with durable casing, allow the multi-ton boat to “stick” into the rocky shore at full speed without any consequences.

Weaknesses

The negative qualities include the lack of stability of the vessel - “felling” when moving the crew on deck and from side to side. The reason for this is the oval sides , expanding sharply from the waterline to the velvet ( fender ). But such a design and heavy thick keel do not allow the vessel to roll over even with significant overload. A significant “enemy” for a party is a side wave, which prettyly sways the ship, delivering unpleasant sensations to passengers.

Another design flaw is that cabin metal boats are not equipped with floating tanks due to lack of space and in the event of a serious accident (large breach) go to the bottom. However, for safety reasons, the vessel is equipped with rescue equipment (life belts, bibs , circles ). On metal boats of an open type (without cabins), a floating tank occupies a significant part of the bow compartment and at the same time is a deck. Wooden boats do not sink on their own, but they also have a closed bow compartment with a deck at the side of the deck, built to stiffen the hull and used to store things and carry light small-sized cargo.

The service life of a solidly made boat, both wooden and metal, in fresh waters with proper care is 35-50 years

During the navigation season , the party does not require special care and is kept afloat, with a depth of at least one or two meters, on cable ties or anchors . In autumn, a heavy vessel is dragged ashore in a special cart or drag , using a tractor . In exceptional cases, especially strong, large metal boats are left on the water in the winter, having built around a log belt to protect them from crushing by ice. In the spring, before launching, it is necessary to carry out preventive maintenance (peeling and painting the bottom, revision of mechanisms, etc.). Typically, wooden vessels require more thorough and long-term preparation for launching.