Junk

Describes the most common type of junk used by independent merchants in Eastern Asia. This sailing ship employs fully battened sails and has been continuously in use since ancient times. Built of teak from Guangdong, the multiple internal compartments and bulkheads are accessed by separate hatches and ladders, reminiscent of the internal structure of bamboo.

The hull has a horseshoe-shaped stern supporting a high poop deck. Seagoing junks incorporate a keel for sea travel (it is unreliable as an ocean-going vessel), but the river junk has no keel and relies on a daggerboard, leeboard or very large rudder to prevent the boat from slipping sideways in the water.

Junks employ stern mounted rudders; this allows height adjustment of the rudder to the depth of the water and reduces damage should the junk ground. The rudder is fenestrated with large diamond-shaped holes, adopted to lessen the force needed to direct the steering of the rudder. It is usually made of elm.

River Junk
Yare: B
Dimensions: length (70 ft.); beam (19 ft.); keel to poop (22 ft.)
Strength: hull (23 pts.); rigging (11 pts.)
Hardpoints: forward (2); stern (2); amidships (1)
Draft: 1½ ft.
Staterooms: quarters (1); decks (2)
Cargo: 19 tons
Crew: 16
Construction Time: 33 days

Sea-going Junk

Yare: C
Dimensions: length (75 ft.); beam (20 ft.); keel to poop (34 ft.)
Strength: hull (25 pts.); rigging (12 pts.)
Hardpoints: forward (2); stern (2); amidships (2)
Draft: 4 ft.
Staterooms: quarters (1); decks (3)
Cargo: 35 tons
Crew: 17
Construction Time: 2 months

See Also,
Hardpoints
Naval Combat
Ship Types
Wind Effects on Movement