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Drawing Ships

Lesson #3

THE SCHOONER The schooner - a truly American vessel developed as a carrier for trade along the Atlantic seaboard - proved to be a fast, economical rig. Gloucester fishing schooners were famous for speed and seaworthiness. Cargo schooners, designed to meet the competition of staemers, were built with five, six, and even seven masts. Schooners were operated by small crews, with a donkey engine to hoist sails and anchors. They outlasted the square-riggers but are now seen only rarely. GREAT LAKES TOPSAIL SCHOONER (ABOVE) THREE-MASTED SCHOONERS (ABOVE) The schooner "American Team" (c. 1876) had a peculiar type of steering gear, the wheel box being forward of the wheel. In the above close-up, note that the davits are bolted solidly to the vessel's side and braced with iron rods. Between the two davits are minor brackets which, after the boat is hoisted, are swung out under its keel for added support. The light craft is then securely lashed in place. HULKS OF OLD WHALERS (ABOVE) A WHALING BARK OF ABOUT 1840 (ABOVE) WHALING BARK, 1875 (ABOVE) WHALERS; Whalers were splendid examples of how self-sufficient sailing vessels could be. Though seldom weighing over 300 tons, they carried as many as 38 men on voyages lasting as long as four years. The distinguishing features of a whaler were the five boats slung over the side of the bulky hull, the sails smoky from the tryworks on deck, and the top-gallant crosstrees crow's-nest on fore and mainmast. A BARKENTINE (ABOVE)