Dutchman builds modern Noah's Ark

BBC ^ | 3-28-06

[narby]

Dutchman Johan Huibers is building a working replica of Noah's Ark as a testament to his Christian faith.

The 47-year-old from Schagen, 45km (30 miles) north of Amsterdam, plans to set sail in September through the interior waters of the Netherlands.

Johan's Ark is a fifth of the size of Noah's and will carry farmyard animals.

Mr Huibers, who plans to open the vessel as a religious monument and zoo, hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands.

Although Mr Huibers has tried to remain true to the ark described in the Bible, Johan's Ark is constructed with American cedar and Norwegian pine, rather than "gopher wood".

'Smell of dung'

According to Genesis, Noah kept seven pairs of most domesticated animals, and one breeding pair of all other creatures.

Noah's wife, three sons and three daughters-in-law lived together on the boat for almost a year while the world was flooded.

Mr Huibers' vision is more modest - he said he plans to stock his ark with horses, lambs, chickens and rabbits - mostly baby animals to save space.

"This will speak very much to children, because it will give them something tangible to see that Noah's Ark really existed," Mr Huibers told the Associated Press news agency.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be just under 1m euros (£0.7m; US$1.2m) and was funded with bank loans.

Mr Huibers plans to charge people to tour the boat and said a drink and religious pamphlet will be included in the admission price. At least 100,000 people will need to visit for the project to break-even financially.

Mr Huibers said his wife was not very keen on the idea.

"She always says: 'Why don't you go dig wells in Ethiopia?'," he said. "I've been involved in projects there before but she understands this is my dream."

[King Prout]

"one-fifth the size"

hrmn... what is meant by that?
one fifth the VOLUME, or one-fifth of each linear dimension?
in other words, should that not read "will be at 1:5 scale"?

remember the square-cube rule.
a model of similar proportion but one-fifth the length would be 1/125th the volume of the original.

[King Prout]

you beat me to it.
I'm assuming the author meant "the model ark will be built on the 1:5 scale"

[Doctor Stochastic]

Well, if it's length; he will be about 25 times stronger.

[King Prout]

scaling the forces, are we?

;)

[Doctor Stochastic]

Easier than scaling the ramparts.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Your numbers are actually a little low: as of 2004 there are around 8,163 reptilian species, 4,629 known mammalian species, 5,699 Amphibian species, and 10,000 species of birds."

Most of those species have evolved since the time of Noah. Back then there were only about 20 of each....;-)

[OB1kNOb]

Good for him. I'd send the wife to Ethiopia.

[King Prout]

ram parts? this guy's building a model mesopotamian ark, not a toy mediterranean dromon

[Joe 6-pack]

"ram parts?"

I think there will be some parts for the ewes, too.

[Virginia-American]

Johan's Ark is a fifth of the size of Noah's

So the volume is 1/125, less that one percent.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The Good News (for the rowers): Double servings at breakfast.

The Bad News: The Captain's going waterskiing this morning.

[King Prout]

why would an ark need ewe-joints? it has no shafted propulsion system at all

[King Prout]

hehhehheh

[Larry Lucido]

said a drink and religious pamphlet will be included in the admission price

Well, that alone should be worth the price of admission.

[Tribune7]

Maybe Noah's wife said something similar. :-)

[Joe 6-pack]

"why would an ark need ewe-joints? it has no shafted propulsion system at all"

Now you're really trying to get my goat.

[patton]

Is it a green-eyed goat?

[King Prout]

oh, sahib, sir, by jove good golly no! the only goat I am being after is that which belongs to Darkchylde.

[Squantos]

LMAO !!.....:o)

[JohnCliftn]

Noah's Ark is on Mount Ararat in Pennsylvania. Take US Rt. 30 West from Jennerstown or Ligonier, or East from Bedford. Make sure you have good brakes and tires.