Zaruk

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shipstamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm

Zaruk

Post by shipstamps » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:37 pm


The zaruk (or zarouq) is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf and a typical example is shown on the 85 f. Somali Coast stamp. This was the craft favoured by smugglers and slave-traders. It is sharp at each end, light of draught and swift of speed. There are many variations of the type and they are locally called by many different names which can be quite confusing. Except for the lateen sail they are quite different from the other dhows, the main differences being the design of the stern and the steering gear. In most cases the stem and stern run to a sharp point, with a gentle sheer on the gunwale line and a very pronounced long slope upwards from the keel centre to both ends of the hull.
The keel is in two sections, the forward one horizontal, the after one raked upwards. The stamp design does not show the extension of the false sternpost used in some of these craft, and is more like the pattern seen on this coast, as regards the stern, with a tiller for steering, an adaptation now common, a fin-like rudder being attached by gudgeons and pintles. A triangular hatch abaft the mast and a square hatch forward of it are general in the craft, which is the usual vessel used by the pearl-fishing community. It is valued by the Arabs for its fine turn of speed and for its handiness in slipping through narrow channels among sandbanks and coral reefs. For coastal work within the Arab trading sphere, the zarouk is the craft in most general use.
SG479 Sea Breezes 1/65

Anatol
Posts: 1037
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: Zaruk

Post by Anatol » Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:20 pm

Keeping company with the sambuk in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea area is the zarook. In this sharp-ended dhow is found a most unusual constructional feature. This is the manner in which the stem and sternpost fail to extend exter¬nally to the full height of the hull planking. Forward, the upper -trakes actually meet to form a sharply pointed bow with no visible stem from a little above the assumed loaded r line. A similar condition pertains to the sternpost so that externally the vital end timbers are sawn off to produce a most extraordinary profile which distinguishes the zarook from all other dhows. In the long raking stem there is prac¬tically n< 1 curvature above the water but when the dhow is high and dry a slight change of angle is discernible about half way down to the keel from the assumed water line. There is also a pronounced rake in the sternpost and this, combined with the rake of the stem, results in the zarook having a very short keel.The zarook\ hull is an open one with the usual poop deck. A pronounced sheer provides little freeboard in the waist and matting screens are absolutely essential for keeping the vessel and its cargo dry when at sea. Steering is either directly by tiller or by means of a yoke as in the booms and in which case the steering tackle is sometimes taken to bumpkins and led inboard to a wheel.The main mast of the zarook possesses such a forward rake that it appears as if it might be in a state of collapse. Strangely enough this exceptional angle of the mast, and the long overhanging stem, actually conveys an impression of speed which of course is a special attribute of this dhow. The zarook has always been capable of showing a clean pair of heels to practically all other sailing craft no matter what breed or nationality. It is not surprising then to hear that, at various times, this dhow has been favoured for most of the nefarious occupations of the Arab; slaving, smuggling, gun-running and the like. Their legitimate business today is as a general cargo carrier between Arabian and Somali ports. At one time zarooks were employed as pearlers in the Red Sea.Extensive decorative paintwork contributes to the distinc¬tiveness of the zarook. The upper strakes are usually in alter¬nate colours, with blue, black and orange predominating.

Republic of Yemen 1972; 80f;SG 106.
Source:C.Hawkins:The Dhow
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Arturo
Posts: 723
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:11 pm

Re: Zaruk

Post by Arturo » Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:33 pm

Zaruk or Zarook

Bahrain, 1979, S.G.?, Scott; 264.
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