Global Information Lookup Global Information

Longboat information


A longboat is a type of ship's boat that was in use from circa 1500 or before. Though the Royal Navy replaced longboats with launches from 1780, examples can be found in merchant ships after that date. The longboat was usually the largest boat carried. In the early period of use, a ship's longboat was often so large that it could not be carried on board, and was instead towed. For instance, a survey of 1618 of Royal Navy ship's boats listed a 52 ft 4 in (16 m) longboat used by the First Rate Prince, a ship whose length of keel was 115 ft (35 m). This could lead to the longboat being lost in adverse weather. By the middle of the 17th century it became increasingly more common to carry the longboat on board, though not universally. In 1697 some British ships in chase of a French squadron cut adrift the longboats they were towing in an attempt to increase their speed and engage with the enemy.[1][2]: 15–17 

Plans for a 31 ft longboat drawn in 1801. The windlass for working an anchor can be seen drawn in red, abaft the mast.

The longboat was used for transporting heavy weights. The two most important of these were casks of drinking water, and an anchor and its cable. The supply of water to (particularly) sailing ships was so vital that all the boats of a ship would have some capability to carry water, but the longboat had the greatest capacity. The casks carried by a large boat would be "leaguers", which held 150 imperial gallons (680 L). These would be laid in the bilges between the thwarts, filling most of the bottom of the boat and making a load of several tonnes. Anchor handling was of special importance before tugs became widely available. A boat would be used to carry either a stream anchor or a kedge into position so that the ship may be pulled out of harbour or away from a hazard. As well as dropping the anchor in position, the longboat would often be used for weighing (raising) the anchor after use. To do this, a windlass was usually fitted amidships and a davit in the stern (or sometimes the bow) to provide a fair lead from the buoy rope[a] or cable to the windlass. A substantial degree of buoyancy was needed in the stern (or bow) to lift a heavy anchor.[2]: 35–40, 43 [1]

The longboat from Vasa. Whilst differing from many longboat designs (this example is double ended, when other longboats had a transom stern) the picture shows the windlass amidships for raising an anchor.

Other heavy weights carried by a longboat included guns - either as armament for the boat or simply to transport to or from the ship. Special slides were developed for armed boats, so that the gun could be traversed. These would also allow the gun to be slid down into a lower position when not in use, to improve the stability of the boat. Boats were regularly armed, even if only for defensive purposes. Swivel guns may be needed to protect the boat when collecting drinking water. Ship's boats were often used offensively, either on their own or when their parent ships were in action.[2]: 16, 113–119 

The longboat usually had the largest passenger carrying capacity out of a ship's boats. Longboats were used by both warships and merchant ships.[1][2]: 43 

A longboat was fitted so that it could be propelled either by oars or by sail. The oars were double-banked - with two oarsmen on each thwart, each using an oar on their own side. The usual sailing rig was single masted, with a gaff mainsail and two headsails - the jib was set on a bowsprit and the staysail to the stemhead. This is a cutter rig, not to be confused with the ship's boat termed a cutter.[2]: 53, 93 

A ship would usually carry the largest longboat it could store on deck. Consequently their size varied depending on the size of the parent ship. However, too large a boat could interfere with the handling of a ship or her guns, and the weight of a longboat could put excessive strain on the masts and yards which were used for hoisting the boat in and out of the water. Smaller ships might carry a yawl instead of a longboat. The sizes of longboats in the Royal Navy in circa 1705 were recorded in a shipwright's notebook as follows.[2]: 129–32 

Sizes of longboat in use in the Royal Navy circa 1705
Length Beam Number of oars Example of use on
34 ft (10 m) 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) 10
33 ft (10 m) 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) 10
32 or 31 ft (9.8 or 9.4 m) 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) 10 74 gun ship
30 ft (9.1 m) 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) 10
29 ft (8.8 m) 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) 8
28 ft (8.5 m) 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) 7
27 ft (8.2 m) 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 7
26 ft (7.9 m) 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 7
25 or 24 ft (7.6 or 7.3 m) 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 6
23 or 22 ft (7.0 or 6.7 m) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 6 36 or 32 gun frigate[b]

[2]: 53, 56 

The Royal Navy started to replace longboats with launches from November 1780. This instruction was implemented for all ships of 20 guns and above being built or coming in for repair. There are earlier instances of individual warships requesting a launch instead of a longboat, with several examples in the 1740s. The advantages of a launch were ease of use in carrying water and stores and a greater number of passengers being accommodated. However a longboat was considered to be more seaworthy. Longboats could be found in merchant service after the Royal Navy had ceased to use them.[2]: 40–43 

  1. ^ a b c Blomfield, R. Massie (1911). "Man-Of-War Boats". Mariner's Mirror. 1 (9): 235–240. doi:10.1080/00253359.1911.10654530. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h May, W E; Stephens, Simon (1999). The Boats of Men of War (2003 publ Caxton Editions ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-84067-4318.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

and 22 Related for: Longboat information

Request time (Page generated in 0.5902 seconds.)

Longboat

Last Update:

A longboat is a type of ship's boat that was in use from circa 1500 or before. Though the Royal Navy replaced longboats with launches from 1780, examples...

Word Count : 936

Tom Longboat

Last Update:

Thomas Charles Longboat (4 July 1886 – 9 January 1949, Iroquois name: Cogwagee) was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford...

Word Count : 1943

Celtic longboat

Last Update:

The Celtic longboat is a rowing boat used for coastal and ocean rowing, racing, training and recreation. It has four sweep-oared rowers and a cox. Racing...

Word Count : 158

Anna Maria Island

Last Update:

on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, on the south by Longboat Pass (which separates it from Longboat Key), on the east by Anna Maria Sound, and on the north...

Word Count : 2102

Longboat Pass Bridge

Last Update:

The Longboat Pass Bridge (also known as Longboat Key Bridge) is a single-leaf bascule bridge that crosses the Longboat Pass, connecting Longboat Key and...

Word Count : 101

Tom Longboat Awards

Last Update:

The Tom Longboat Awards were established in 1951 to recognize Aboriginal athletes "for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada" and continues...

Word Count : 969

Longboat Observer

Last Update:

The Longboat Observer is an American free newspaper published by Observer Media Group. It is distributed primarily in Longboat Key, Florida as well as...

Word Count : 355

Bantry Bay

Last Update:

Berehaven Harbour." The square in Bantry is today named after Wolfe Tone. A longboat used in a French scouting expedition landed in Bere Island and lay in Berehaven...

Word Count : 858

Aboriginal Sport Circle

Last Update:

among indigenous populations. The ASC also gives out the national Tom Longboat Award to the outstanding male and female Aboriginal athlete in Canada each...

Word Count : 804

Julie Anne Robinson

Last Update:

founded CannyLads Productions in the United States. Robinson co-founded Longboat Pictures in the United Kingdom with former ITV Controller of Drama, Victoria...

Word Count : 707

Lyric Atchison

Last Update:

2018 – 2019 and Atchison was announced as one of the players. The Tom Longboat Award was established in 1951 and is given to Aboriginal athletes to recognize...

Word Count : 418

Drascombe

Last Update:

Kingdom (UK). They comprised the Coaster, Cruiser Longboat, Dabber, Drifter, Driver, Gig, Launch, Longboat, Lugger, Peterboat, Scaffie, Scaith and Skiff,...

Word Count : 2641

Pitcairn Island

Last Update:

barracudas and tuna are all abundant. Whale migrations are seen yearly. Church Longboats View of Adamstown John Adams's grave Pier St Paul’s Point (east coast)...

Word Count : 269

Six Nations of the Grand River

Last Update:

named communities exist within the Six Nations reserve: Beavers Corner Longboat Corners Medina Corners Millers Corner Ohsweken St. Johns Sixty-Nine Corners...

Word Count : 2443

Longboat Key Center for the Arts

Last Update:

Longboat Key Center for the Arts was an arts center at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Longboat Key, Manatee County, Florida. The Center included...

Word Count : 216

Florida State Road 789

Last Update:

Coast that spans Bird Key, St. Armands Key, and Lido Key, in Sarasota; Longboat Key (as Gulf of Mexico Drive); and Anna Maria Island. The southern terminus...

Word Count : 769

Archipelago fleet

Last Update:

or so). The gun longboat (kanonbarkass) was equipped with two schooner-rigged masts. Only roughly 13 meters in length the longboats were equipped with...

Word Count : 2144

Lido Key

Last Update:

connected to mainland Sarasota by John Ringling Causeway. To its north is Longboat Key; to its east are Bird Key and St. Armands Key; and to its south is...

Word Count : 954

Tom Helmore

Last Update:

directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Helmore was born in London, England and died in Longboat Key, Florida, USA. Helmore worked in his father's accounting firm while...

Word Count : 407

Henry Every

Last Update:

bloodlessly. One account states that the extra men from James pulled up in a longboat beside the ship and gave the password, saying, "Is the drunken boatswain...

Word Count : 11395

Observer Media Group

Last Update:

Observer Media Groupstarted when Matt Walsh and Lisa Walsh purchased the Longboat Observer in 1995 from Ralph and Claire Hunter with the help of Lisa's parents...

Word Count : 938

First Nations in Canada

Last Update:

Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2009. Longboat, Dianne (1987). "First Nation Control of Education: The Path to our Survival...

Word Count : 16080

PDF Search Engine © AllGlobal.net