Sailboats ... are inclined to
Tip Over..what with their sails pushing them to do so. SO: Sailboats have to have some kind of
Ballast to counteract this tendency.
Modern sailboats have a Weighted Keel hanging down below the boat to counteract this tendency. The Longship has no such keel. It is a shallow draft "skimming dish"..... That's why it is
Fast.
When I saw this boat at
Mystic Seaport Museum, I noticed that the bilge, directly below the removable deck boards was pretty much filled with
beach stones. No weighted Keel under this boat. The weight of the stones (ballast) keep the boat reasonably upright.
NB
More Info... you probably didn't need to know.
NB