Boat

Boat. The length and approximate weight of the principal classes of boats which are used in the British navy, and to a great extent also in the mercantile marine, are as follows: -

Pulling or Sailing Boats: - Length (feet). Weight (cwts. qrs.).

Dingey - 12, 3, 1
Dingey - 14, 4, 2
Whale Gig (life) - 27, 7, 3
Whale Gig - 25, 7, 0
Whale Gig - 27, 7, 2
Cutter Gig - 20, 7, 0
Gig - 22, 7, 1
Gig - 24, 7, 1
Gig - 26, 7, 3
Gig - 28, 8, 0
Gig - 30, 8, 3
Gig - 32, 9, 0
Jolly boat - 16, 6, 0
Jolly baat - 18, 8, 0
Cutter (life), cork lined - 28, 20, 0
Cutter (life), cork lined - 32, 20, 3
Cutter - 25, 15, 0
Cutter - 26, 16, 0
Cutter - 28, 16, 3
Cutter - 30, 18, 2
Cutter - 32, 19, 3
Pinnace - 30, 41, 0
Pinnace - 32, 43, 2
Launch, unsheathed - 40, 67, 2
Launch, unsheathed - 42, 75, 0

Steam Boats (with machinery): -
Cutter - 28, 45, 0
Pinnace - 30, 60, 0
Pinnace - 37, 105, 0
Launch - 42, 148 to 155 cwt.

Boats are found to gain in weight each year of usage. Barges are cutters or gigs never rowing less than ten oars. A longboat is the largest of a ship's sailing boats. Boats are either clinker or carvel built. In clinker-work each plank overlies the plank next below it; in carvel-work the edges of the planks meet flush together, and are caulked. Of boats which are not ship's boats there is an almost endless variety. The wherry is a light sharp boat, chiefly used for passenger and small luggage traffic in rivers and harbours. Punts are oblong flat-bottomed boats. Out-rigged racing boats were introduced about the year 1840, and were first used in the annual Oxford and Cambridge races in the year 1846. Those of that date, however, were comparatively heavy and cumbrous, and it was not until 1857 that the present style of boats without keels was used. The further improvement of sliding seats was introduced in 1873.