Ah, no sir, I have faith in fellow sailors
Ah, no sir, I have faith in fellow sailors
As a Ship of the Line, these boats would really mix it up in very close quarters as the battles evolved (devolved?). That 'angle' allowed the boat to swing without getting snagged bow-on with an opponent, a fatal error. Do a Google image search of 'battle of the Nile' to see how close they scrapped.I think they a bit too ornate. And get a load of that bowsprit. Really? Is there some kind of phallic symbolism there?
L’Hermione. The French frigate that brought Gen. La Fayetteville into Boston with news that France was throwing in with the American Revolution. Here she is in full replica. QUOTE]
It has been a few years now, but after a weekend out on the water we sailed back into Annapolis Harbor. L'Hermione was anchored there because her in-port slip would not be open until the next day. I have never seen anything like her. SHe was spooky, like the Black Pearl would have been. She looked so much more rigged than any other tall ship I have seen. I can't put my curser on the pictures, but I'll renew my effort. Lots of boats were circling her, taking every picture they could. I went back twice when she was tied in her slip. Nice on-the-dock display of one of her cannons, too!
If memory serves they did use oak, as it was hard enough to resist cannon ball strikes. Also mentioned was that the majority of injuries in battle were from oak splinters.It would be possible with live oak but I'm sure they didn't use that. They had to be steam bent but it's hard to imagine the steaming box/jig setup. In the 17th century it is unimaginable.
Ah, the old weather gage. I wonder if they had some sort of Colregs back then? Or at least gentlemen's agreements of action?As a Ship of the Line, these boats would really mix it up in very close quarters as the battles evolved (devolved?). That 'angle' allowed the boat to swing without getting snagged bow-on with an opponent, a fatal error. Do a Google image search of 'battle of the Nile' to see how close they scrapped.
My first big boat was a Rhodes 49' ocean racing cutter. Though indeed a lovely, fast and great sailing boat, she was ludicrous as a cruising boat for a couple. Had to trade her in for a more practical boat.But if we're talking about "real" boats and not museum or historic show pieces, I'd split my vote into two categories: "obtainable", and "fairy tale" Under obtainable, I vote for the designs of Carl Alberg and Philip Rhodes.