Gollum's boat?? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 06-11-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdland

The boat was made from...the skull of a Balrog!

And its sails were made from balrog wings!

Seriously, though, it could have been a coracle, made from skins and willow wands and fat.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 06-11-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

And its sails were made from balrog wings!

Seriously, though, it could have been a coracle, made from skins and willow wands and fat.

Do you think that the goblins threw things that they didn't need into the cave such as broken tools or unneeded things that Smeagol could make a boat out of. His boat was most likely made out of a bunch of random junk that he found.

The Sixth Wizard · 06-12-2008, 07:17 AM

Driftwood? This begs the question; why didn't it rot? Where did it drift from (as driftwood floats on the surface) Was there an underground river that led out of the cave?

Anyway, who cares.

Gwathagor · 06-12-2008, 08:20 AM

I like the coracle concept.

skip spence · 06-12-2008, 09:00 AM

Aren't you forgetting that Gollum had an invisibility ring? Anything the Goblins had he could have easily snatched, and they probably did have all the nessesary raw materials for a simple boat, even one made out of wood. I don't find it unlikely he had the skills to construct one either, since he was born near Anduin into a people most likely with boat-building skills. That he was an experienced river-man is also demonstrated by his ability to follow the fellowship down Anduin with only driftwood to keep him afloat. Someone not used to water and boats would hardly be able to do that I think.

alatar · 06-12-2008, 09:17 AM

So Gollum, in his boredom and using the One Ring, stole materials from the Goblins that he might sail the seven seas of his lake inside a cave. What did he even need the boat for? Hauling up his big catch? Hunting Moby Dick?

Was it like a ferry that he used to go to and fro from his island, and also a security feature that kept the Goblins from sailing over to find him? The more I think about it, the more hokey it all sounds (but the Hobbit is a little odd anyway).

And I care. My day hinges on this issue...

skip spence · 06-12-2008, 11:43 AM

Hokey? Nah!

I can easily picture him setting up a small workshop somewhere down in the dungeon. There, under a beam of pale moonlight coming from a hole in the roof, he would carve out oars from one piece of wood, cut logs into planks, plane them, and then nail them together. He would then have to tar his vessel to make it watertight and perhaps add a few features for comfort, such as a seat and a storage space with a hatch. Easy.

06-12-2008, 08:20 AM	#4
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	I like the coracle concept. __________________ Stories and songs.

06-12-2008, 09:00 AM	#5
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Aren't you forgetting that Gollum had an invisibility ring? Anything the Goblins had he could have easily snatched, and they probably did have all the nessesary raw materials for a simple boat, even one made out of wood. I don't find it unlikely he had the skills to construct one either, since he was born near Anduin into a people most likely with boat-building skills. That he was an experienced river-man is also demonstrated by his ability to follow the fellowship down Anduin with only driftwood to keep him afloat. Someone not used to water and boats would hardly be able to do that I think. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

06-12-2008, 09:17 AM	#6
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	So Gollum, in his boredom and using the One Ring, stole materials from the Goblins that he might sail the seven seas of his lake inside a cave. What did he even need the boat for? Hauling up his big catch? Hunting Moby Dick? Was it like a ferry that he used to go to and fro from his island, and also a security feature that kept the Goblins from sailing over to find him? The more I think about it, the more hokey it all sounds (but the Hobbit is a little odd anyway). And I care. My day hinges on this issue... __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

06-12-2008, 11:43 AM	#7
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Hokey? Nah! I can easily picture him setting up a small workshop somewhere down in the dungeon. There, under a beam of pale moonlight coming from a hole in the roof, he would carve out oars from one piece of wood, cut logs into planks, plane them, and then nail them together. He would then have to tar his vessel to make it watertight and perhaps add a few features for comfort, such as a seat and a storage space with a hatch. Easy. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

06-12-2008, 07:17 AM	#3
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 480	Driftwood? This begs the question; why didn't it rot? Where did it drift from (as driftwood floats on the surface) Was there an underground river that led out of the cave? Anyway, who cares.