There are three main types of boats in Valheim : the raft, the karve and the drakkar. Each one unlocks as you progress, from the start of the game through the Iron Age.
Here's how to make them, what supplies you'll need, and how to navigate the ocean without getting lost.
What is the boat used for?
In Valheim, the boat lets you cross the oceans and reach new islands. It's the only way to explore the biomes located across the sea.
It also lets you transport ore and heavy resources from one point on the map to another. The Karve and the Drakkar have storage spaces for your items, whereas the raft has none.
A good boat lets you travel faster on the water and makes it easier to transport materials between the world's different biomes.
How to build a boat?
Each boat model in Valheim is made using a workbench (workbench) nearby. Remember to Improve your crafting table to unlock the advanced options.
To launch your boat:
- Select the hammer.
- Press F to open the Construction tab.
- Choose the raft, the Karve where the Longship.
- Click the left mouse button to place it in the water.
And if you're just getting started, check out our guide first to building in Valheim.
The Raft
The raft is your first option for traveling by water. It’s slow, has no storage space, and doesn’t have a sail. It’s mainly useful for crossing a small body of water or reaching a nearby island.
Materials needed to make it:
- 20 pieces of wood (Wood)
- 6 pieces of leather (Leather Scraps)
- 10 resin (Resin)
Resin drips from the Grey Dwarves (Greydwarfs) in the Black Forest. You can also get some by cutting down trees in various biomes.
the Karve
the Karve unlocks during the Bronze Age. It comes with a sail, is faster than the raft, and has 4 storage slots. It’s the perfect boat for your first long sea crossings.
Materials needed to make it:
- 30 fine wood (Fine Wood)
- 6 deer hides (Deer Hide)
- 20 resin (Resin)
- 20 bronze nails (Bronze Nails)
the Longship (Drakkar)
the Longship, nicknamed Drakkar, is the largest ship in the game. It sails fast, withstands storms on the open sea better, and offers 32 storage slots. You unlock it during the Iron Age. It’s the best ship for transporting heavy cargo over long distances.
Materials needed to make it:
- 40 fine wood (Fine Wood)
- 10 deer hides (Deer Hide)
- 40 old bark (Ancient Bark, obtained from ancient trees in the swamps)
- 100 iron nails (Iron Nails)
How do you sail a boat in Valheim?
Move closer to the helm and press the interaction button to take the helm. On the raft, just like on the Karve and the Longship, you control your browsing speed in increments.
There are three speeds available: slow, medium, and fast. A reverse gear also lets you back up and clear an obstacle.
At low speed, the boat uses only its oars. It can move in any direction, regardless of the wind. At medium and high speeds, the sail is deployed.
With the sail set, the direction of the wind becomes crucial. A tailwind sends your boat gliding quickly across the water. A headwind greatly reduces your speed, and you have to tack back and forth to keep moving forward.
An arrow displayed near the rudder shows you the wind direction in real time. Keep an eye on it to choose the best course for your long voyages between the islands.
How to move forward with the rudder?
To move forward, press the forward key (Z on AZERTY, W on QWERTY). A direction icon will then appear next to the compass at the top of the screen. It shows you the course your raft, your karve or your drakkar.
Here are the different speed settings: pressing the button once sets the oars to a slow pace. Subsequent presses switch to medium speed, then fast speed with the sail deployed. The rudder (rudder) steers the hull while these bearings control the propulsion power.
To reverse, hold down the S key. The boat will first slow down, then move backward slowly. This maneuver is useful for getting away from a beach or a rock.
A slow speed is still valuable when turning. It gives you time to position your boat so that the wind is coming from the right side.
And on a karve or one longship, positioning the sail correctly relative to the wind helps you gain a lot of speed on the water.
How do you use a sail?
Press the forward key once or twice (Z on AZERTY, W on QWERTY) to unfurl the sail. The wind must be coming from behind to help you gain speed. If the wind is blowing head-on, your sail loses all its effectiveness and the boat slows down significantly.
Keep an eye on the wind direction, indicated by the arrow at the top of the screen. Position your boat so that the wind is at your back to sail at full speed. When the wind is head-on, zigzagging will allow you to keep moving forward anyway.
the Karve and the Drakkar benefit from a larger sail and much greater speed than a raft, especially on long sea crossings.
How to steer the boat?
To change direction, press the A and D keys. The A key turns left, and the D key turns right. Your character will then use the rudder to steer the boat through the water.
This control works the same way on the raft, the karve and the longship. Larger boats turn more slowly and require you to anticipate turns, unlike the raft, which remains very maneuverable.
Keep an eye on the wind direction while you're sailing. If you turn too close to the wind, your sail loses power and your speed drops. Adjust your course little by little to stay on the wind and sail faster.
How to stop the boat?
To stop your boat in Valheim, press the reverse key (Z or S) until the sail is fully raised. The rudder icon will then switch to the off position, and the ship gradually slows down.
Without wind in the sail, the hull loses momentum and eventually comes to a stop on the water. Lower the sail well before approaching an island or the shore, because a boat never stops suddenly in Valheim. This precaution is even more important during storms, when the wind can push your boat toward the rocks faster than expected.
To make the most of your adventures at sea, be sure to also Choosing a Good World Seed right from the start. You'll find some sturdy wood Useful for repairing and maintaining your boats.
And for more information on Valheim :
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