Right I am a bit rubbish when it comes to describing boats. I know roughly what the pointy end is called, what a sloop is etc ( from reading pirate books So I am after some info from someone more informed.
My characters have to travel in a boat- the terrain is swampy wetland. The water is not deep, there are spits of land but it is plenty deep enough to drown in. As the water is dark it is hard to tell anyway. Basically the region is a flooded area, some trees on the lands, even a few tiny settlements on the islands. There are various creatures in the waters- crocs, large snakes etc all wanting an easy lunch.
The boat they have is shallow drafted and used for fishing/trading. I have given them an awning to lash over as apart from a small cabin it is open (it is a plot device.) I have described the vessel as long and thin to be propelled in a similar manner as a gondola. It needs to accommodate 6 including the one steering, plus bags. Would a gondola or some type of poled barge be correct? Does the pole have a name, or is it just "pole?"
Can anyone suggest something better. The description of the boat is easily altered it just needs to accommodate 6 and be steered with a pole. I am assuming also it would be steered from the stern.
My characters have to travel in a boat- the terrain is swampy wetland. The water is not deep, there are spits of land but it is plenty deep enough to drown in. As the water is dark it is hard to tell anyway. Basically the region is a flooded area, some trees on the lands, even a few tiny settlements on the islands. There are various creatures in the waters- crocs, large snakes etc all wanting an easy lunch.
The boat they have is shallow drafted and used for fishing/trading. I have given them an awning to lash over as apart from a small cabin it is open (it is a plot device.) I have described the vessel as long and thin to be propelled in a similar manner as a gondola. It needs to accommodate 6 including the one steering, plus bags. Would a gondola or some type of poled barge be correct? Does the pole have a name, or is it just "pole?"
Can anyone suggest something better. The description of the boat is easily altered it just needs to accommodate 6 and be steered with a pole. I am assuming also it would be steered from the stern.