Overview:
The “Migrations of an American Boat Type” is a detailed exploration of the development and geographical spread of the sharpie, a distinctive flat-bottomed sailing skiff. The text highlights the unique features that made the sharpie ideal for oyster fishing, specifically its shallow draft, speed, and maneuverability. The author, Howard I. Chapelle, meticulously traces the sharpie’s journey from its origins in New Haven, Connecticut, to its adaptations and widespread use along the Atlantic coast, in the Carolina Sounds, and even Florida and the Great Lakes. The study underscores the sharpie’s remarkable adaptability and its enduring influence on boat design, even after its decline in commercial fishing.
The text dives into the sharpie’s construction, exploring its structural components, materials, and building techniques. It reveals the sharpie’s evolution from a simple two-masted skiff to more complex variations, including the half-decked and schooner-rigged versions, adapted for different fishing methods and geographical locations. The article also touches upon the sharpie’s transformation into a popular yacht, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses as a recreational vessel.
Key Findings:
- The sharpie was uniquely suited for oyster fishing due to its shallow draft, speed, maneuverability, and low cost.
- The sharpie’s design was adapted and modified to suit specific regional fishing needs and traditions.
- While the sharpie’s use in commercial fishing declined, its influence on boat design remains visible in modern vessels.
Learning:
- The Importance of Design Adaptation: The sharpie’s evolution showcases how boat design is influenced by specific geographical conditions, fishing methods, and economic factors. Each region developed its own unique variations to optimize the sharpie for local conditions, demonstrating the importance of tailoring designs to specific needs.
- The Impact of Technological Advancement: The text demonstrates how technological advancements like power saws and planers influenced shipbuilding methods and efficiency, allowing for faster construction and increased production.
- The Enduring Influence of Tradition: Even as the sharpie’s use declined, its distinctive features and construction techniques continued to influence boat design in various regions. The round, vertically staved sterns of Chesapeake Bay motorboats and Hatteras boats from the Carolina Sounds serve as examples of the sharpie’s legacy.
Historical Context:
The text was written in 1961, a period marked by significant changes in the American fishing industry, with the decline of traditional sailing vessels and the rise of mechanized boats. This historical context provides a framework for understanding the sharpie’s diminishing role in commercial fishing and its transition into a more recreational use.
Facts:
- Origins in New Haven, Connecticut: The New Haven sharpie was originally developed for oyster fishing in the mid-19th century.
- Economic Advantages: The sharpie was highly economical to build, making it an attractive option for fishermen.
- Adaptability: The sharpie’s design was easily adapted to different fishing methods and regions, spreading its use along the Atlantic Coast.
- Fast and Seaworthy: The sharpie was renowned for its speed and surprising seaworthiness, even in rough conditions.
- Evolution into Yachts: The sharpie’s speed and graceful appearance led to its adoption as a recreational yacht.
- Production Method: New Haven sharpie builders developed a “production” method, allowing for the efficient construction of large numbers of boats.
- Regional Variations: The sharpie underwent regional adaptations, resulting in variations like the Chesapeake Bay sharpie and the North Carolina sharpie.
- The “Frolic” Legend: A New Haven sharpie named “Frolic” is said to have been found adrift in the Chesapeake Bay, contributing to the introduction of the sharpie design in that region.
- The “Albemarle Sound Boat” or “Croatan Boat”: A modified yawl used in the Carolina Sounds for shad fishing before the introduction of the sharpie.
- Influence on Larger Boats: The sharpie’s use of transverse tie rods influenced the design of larger sailing vessels like the Chesapeake Bay “skipjacks.”
- The “Lucky”: The first large sharpie yacht, built in 1855 by Robert Fish.
- High Sailing Speeds: Sharpies were known for their remarkable speed, with reports of speeds reaching 15-16 knots.
- Double-Ended Sharpies: Double-ended sharpies, with both ends resembling the bow, were developed in Florida and other regions.
- The “Garvey”: A small, punt-shaped sailing scow popular in Barnegat Bay for oyster fishing.
- The “Three-plank Canoe”: A primitive craft made of three planks, common in colonial Chesapeake Bay.
- The “Cabin Skiff”: A double-ended, half-decked boat with a trunk cabin, used on the Chesapeake Bay.
- The “Pelican”: A sharpie yacht built in 1885 for Florida waters.
- Influence on Modern Skiffs: The sharpie’s influence is seen in modern, outboard-powered fishing skiffs, though they are often modeled after more primitive designs.
Statistics:
- 100-Bushel Sharpies: Sharpies carrying 100 bushels of oysters were 26-28 feet long.
- 150-Bushel Sharpies: Sharpies carrying 150-175 bushels of oysters were 35-36 feet long.
- 200 Sharpies: In 1880, nearly 200 sharpies could be seen at Fairhaven, Connecticut, at nightfall.
- Construction Time: A sharpie could be built in 6 working days by a skilled builder and two helpers.
- Annual Production: Lester Rowe, a noted New Haven sharpie builder, and his team built 31 sharpies in one year.
- Hull Weight: A 35-foot sharpie hull weighed 2,000-2,500 pounds.
- Cargo Capacity: A 35-foot sharpie could carry about 5 short tons of cargo.
- Sharpie Schooners: Sharpie schooners were usually 30-38 feet long.
- Large Carolina Sharpie Schooners: Carolina sharpie schooners ranged from 40-52 feet in length.
- Speed Records: A large sharpie is reported to have run 11 nautical miles in 34 minutes.
Terms:
- Sharpie: A distinctive flat-bottomed sailing skiff, originally developed for oyster fishing.
- Centerboard: A retractable fin that extends down into the water, providing lateral stability and allowing the boat to sail closer to the wind.
- Daggerboard: A type of centerboard that is lifted and lowered vertically.
- Spritsail: A triangular sail attached to a spar called a sprit that extends from the mast to the sail’s lower corner.
- Leg-of-Mutton Sail: A sail with a curved top and a straight bottom, resembling a leg of mutton.
- Skeg: A small, usually wooden fin attached to the bottom of the boat, usually aft of the rudder.
- Transom: The stern of a boat, especially when it is square or nearly square.
- Flare: The outward curve of a boat’s hull, particularly at the sides.
- Camber: The curvature of the bottom of a boat’s hull, running fore and aft.
- Cuddy: A small, enclosed space in a boat, often used for storage or sleeping.
Examples:
- The “Frolic”: A New Haven sharpie that was found adrift in the Chesapeake Bay, leading to the adoption of the sharpie design in that region.
- The “Telegraph”: The first New Haven sharpie, according to Mr. M. Goodsell.
- The “Lucky”: The first large sharpie yacht, built in 1855.
- The “Albemarle Sound Boat” or “Croatan Boat”: A modified yawl used in the Carolina Sounds for shad fishing.
- The “Garvey”: A small, punt-shaped sailing scow popular in Barnegat Bay for oyster fishing.
- The “Cabin Skiff”: A double-ended, half-decked boat with a trunk cabin, used on the Chesapeake Bay.
- The “Pelican”: A sharpie yacht built in 1885 for Florida waters.
Conclusion:
The “Migrations of an American Boat Type” provides a compelling and detailed account of the sharpie’s journey from a simple oyster-fishing skiff to a regional icon and a lasting influence on boat design. The text highlights the sharpie’s adaptability, its economic importance, and its remarkable speed and seaworthiness. Although the sharpie’s role in commercial fishing has waned, its legacy lives on in modern boat designs, reminding us of the enduring influence of traditional boatbuilding techniques and the ingenuity of American boatbuilders.