The maintenance of the “barchetti” is a complex activity, because it requires specific craftsmen, that is to say a shipwright and a caulker. During the years the experience has been obtained by the old “renaioli” and the maintenance of the “barchetti” is carried out conserving the ancient tecniques.

The maintenance takes place on the Arno river banks to limit the displacement and the time ashore of the “barchetti”. In fact the oak planks that serve the boats can’t stay out of water for long periods of time because they would suffer great damage. The “barchetti” are like the fish: without water they die.

Taking the “barchetti” on the river-side is an operation that requires from 6 to 10 persons, it depends on the size of the boats, moreover they have to be moved two times or more per day. The “barchetto” is capsized so that the damaged planks can be replaced. The old planks are removed through a complex operation. The new planks, after the refitting and the bilge, are fixed on the “matili” with the nails.

After the reconstruciton of the planks,the junctions between the planks, called “commenti”, are sealed with tarry tow. Then we proceed with the process of caulking with warm pitch or tar that render watertight the “barchetto”. After the caulking we protect all the other parts of the boats with red-lead paint and then we finish them with the traditional colours.

If you are interested to participate in the rescue and the preservation of these symbols of the history of Florence, you can contact us info@florenceriver.it

Thanks to your contributions the Renaioli association will be able to continue with its aim to maintain this important florentine tradition.