William's fleet was assembled too quickly for much of its timber to season, so many newly built vessels were never intended as permanent naval assets. The Mora stands apart as a ship ordered earlier and probably built from better-prepared wood. Even that carefully maintained prestige vessel was out of service about 24 years later, despite ships of the period often being hauled out of salt water and kept on beaches. The invasion could succeed in 1066 without leaving a large population of durable warships for later generations.
Notable Point · 8:48-10:13
Campaign ships were not built for long service
Most invasion vessels were rushed campaign assets, while the earlier and more carefully built Mora illustrates the upper end of Norman construction quality.