View Noah's Ark Model Pictures

Master modeler Bob Kyle from Captain's Models has donated his time into building a 1/100 scale replica of Noah's Ark for The Quest for Bible Treasures. Using the dimensions noted in the Bible and his knowledge of ship building, he has constructed what we believe to be the actual design and shape of Noah's Ark.

Before the building process began, Captain Bob and I (Jeremy) took many things into consideration. What type of materials did Noah use? What was the size and shape? And most importantly, as Captain Bob concluded, the Ark was built with a "form following function" design.

Materials
According to Genesis the Ark was built of Gopher wood. The meaning of "Gopher" is not clear, however, it's been suggested that it's related to the Hebrew word "kopher" which is pitch. It's believed that it was just miscopied. Modern translations of the Bible replace "Gopher" with cypress, but that's without support. Pitch is what we commonly refer to as tar.

Size of the Ark
The Ark was built to the dimensions of 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 high. The actual length of a cubit is debatable. Some believe the Genesis account was referring to a Hebrew cubit with a measurement of 17.5 inches. But Moses, who was the author of Genesis, was "learned in all the wisdom of Egypt," according to Acts 7:22. So why would he be using a Hebrew cubit and not the Royal Egyptian cubit? The Egyptian cubit is 20.62 inches, thus making the Ark 515 feet long, 86 feet wide, and 51 feet tall.

The Ark was built on a 1:6 ratio (50 cubits to 300 cubits). Naval architects agree that a 1:6 ratio is the perfect ratio for building ships. All modern day ships use the same width to length ratio.

Stability
Noah would have designed the ship to withstand the toughest of storms. And if it were equipped with dragging anchor stones it would have withstood the biggest of waves. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but Noah and his family were in the Ark for just over a year! So, it was built to last. It was built three stories high with a single door and window.

Genesis 6:16 - A window shalt though make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt though finish it above. (KJV) So, the window was at the top of the Ark according to scripture. And it likely ran the length of the Ark. Why at the top? Ventilation.

Keeping in mind the "form following function" design of the Ark, we could conclude that Noah would have no reason for a deck. The roof likely slopped down until it met the top edge of the hull, which allowed for run off of rain, thus protecting the Ark from being flooded.

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