What state was the sharpie originally designed for oyster fishing?
- Florida
- New York
- Maine
- Connecticut
Correct Answer: Connecticut
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie was originally developed in New Haven, Connecticut, in the mid-19th century, specifically for oyster fishing in the Long Island Sound.
What was a key feature of the sharpie that made it well-suited for oyster fishing?
- Its deep draft, allowing it to navigate deeper waters.
- Its high speed, enabling fishermen to reach distant fishing grounds quickly.
- Its shallow draft, allowing it to access shallow oyster beds.
- Its large capacity, enabling fishermen to carry large quantities of oysters.
Correct Answer: Its shallow draft, allowing it to access shallow oyster beds.
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie’s shallow draft was a crucial characteristic for oyster fishing, as it allowed the boat to navigate shallow waters and access oyster beds that were inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels.
Which of these was NOT a common variation of the sharpie?
- Chesapeake Bay sharpie
- North Carolina sharpie
- New Jersey sharpie
- Florida sharpie
Correct Answer: New Jersey sharpie
Correct Answer Explanation: While sharpies were adapted to different regions, there isn’t a recognized “New Jersey sharpie.” The sharpie variations mainly centered around Chesapeake Bay, North Carolina, Florida, and the Great Lakes.
How did the sharpie’s design evolve over time?
- It became smaller and less maneuverable.
- It became more expensive to build.
- It became less efficient in terms of speed and capacity.
- It became more versatile and adapted to different fishing methods.
Correct Answer: It became more versatile and adapted to different fishing methods.
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie’s design was continually modified to meet the evolving needs of fishermen, including adaptations for different fishing methods, regions, and cargo capacity.
What was the name of a famous New Haven sharpie that is said to have drifted into the Chesapeake Bay?
- The Telegraph
- The Pelican
- The Frolic
- The Lucky
Correct Answer: The Frolic
Correct Answer Explanation: The legend of “The Frolic,” a New Haven sharpie that was found adrift in the Chesapeake Bay, is said to have sparked the adoption of the sharpie design in that region.
What was a unique feature of the sharpie’s construction?
- It was built using a single, large piece of wood.
- It was built with a hull made entirely of metal.
- It was built with a double-planked hull for added strength.
- It was built with a centerboard that could be raised and lowered.
Correct Answer: It was built with a centerboard that could be raised and lowered.
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie’s centerboard was a critical element of its design. It allowed the boat to sail closer to the wind and provided lateral stability, while also enabling it to navigate shallow waters by retracting the centerboard.
What made the sharpie an attractive option for fishermen?
- Its high initial cost, making it a symbol of prestige.
- Its unique design, setting it apart from other fishing boats.
- Its speed and maneuverability, making it efficient for fishing.
- Its large cargo capacity, allowing fishermen to catch and sell more oysters.
Correct Answer: Its speed and maneuverability, making it efficient for fishing.
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie’s speed and maneuverability, combined with its shallow draft, made it an efficient vessel for oyster fishing, allowing fishermen to quickly access oyster beds and maneuver effectively in shallow waters.
How did the sharpie’s design influence larger sailing vessels?
- It inspired the use of multiple masts for increased sail area.
- It influenced the development of retractable keels and centerboards.
- It led to the adoption of sail shapes like the leg-of-mutton sail.
- It inspired the use of transverse tie rods for hull strength.
Correct Answer: It inspired the use of transverse tie rods for hull strength.
Correct Answer Explanation: The sharpie’s use of transverse tie rods, which added strength to the hull, influenced the design of larger sailing vessels like the Chesapeake Bay skipjacks.
What was the approximate length of a sharpie carrying 100 bushels of oysters?
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
- 26 feet
- 35 feet
Correct Answer: 26 feet
Correct Answer Explanation: Sharpies carrying 100 bushels of oysters were typically 26-28 feet long, reflecting the relationship between cargo capacity and overall size.
What was the name of the first large sharpie yacht?
- The Telegraph
- The Pelican
- The Frolic
- The Lucky
Correct Answer: The Lucky
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Lucky,” built in 1855 by Robert Fish, is considered the first large sharpie yacht, showcasing the sharpie’s transition from a commercial fishing vessel to a recreational sailboat.
What was the approximate weight of a 35-foot sharpie hull?
- 500 pounds
- 1,000 pounds
- 2,000 pounds
- 5,000 pounds
Correct Answer: 2,000 pounds
Correct Answer Explanation: A 35-foot sharpie hull typically weighed between 2,000 and 2,500 pounds, highlighting the lightweight construction that contributed to its speed and maneuverability.
What was a typical speed that a sharpie could achieve?
- 5-6 knots
- 10-12 knots
- 15-16 knots
- 20-25 knots
Correct Answer: 15-16 knots
Correct Answer Explanation: Sharpies were known for their speed, and reports indicate that they could achieve speeds of 15-16 knots, particularly with favorable wind conditions.
What was the approximate annual production of sharpies by Lester Rowe, a renowned builder?
- 10
- 20
- 31
- 50
Correct Answer: 31
Correct Answer Explanation: Lester Rowe, a significant figure in sharpie construction, and his team were capable of building 31 sharpies in a single year, highlighting the efficiency of the production method employed.
What is the term for a retractable fin that extends down into the water, providing lateral stability?
- Transom
- Skeg
- Centerboard
- Daggerboard
Correct Answer: Centerboard
Correct Answer Explanation: A centerboard, a key feature of the sharpie’s design, is a retractable fin that extends into the water, providing lateral stability, allowing the boat to sail closer to the wind, and enabling it to navigate shallow waters.
What is the term for the stern of a boat, especially when it is square or nearly square?
- Transom
- Skeg
- Centerboard
- Daggerboard
Correct Answer: Transom
Correct Answer Explanation: The transom is the aft end or stern of a boat, particularly when it has a square or nearly square shape. It’s a common structural element in many boat designs, including the sharpie.
What is the term for the outward curve of a boat’s hull, particularly at the sides?
- Flare
- Camber
- Cuddy
- Spritsail
Correct Answer: Flare
Correct Answer Explanation: The flare refers to the outward curvature of a boat’s hull, especially at the sides. It contributes to the boat’s stability and buoyancy, and it’s a characteristic found in many boat designs, including the sharpie.
What is the term for the curvature of the bottom of a boat’s hull, running fore and aft?
- Flare
- Camber
- Cuddy
- Spritsail
Correct Answer: Camber
Correct Answer Explanation: The camber describes the curvature of a boat’s hull, running from the bow to the stern. It’s an important design feature that affects the boat’s stability, performance, and water handling characteristics.
What is the term for a small, enclosed space in a boat, often used for storage or sleeping?
- Flare
- Camber
- Cuddy
- Spritsail
Correct Answer: Cuddy
Correct Answer Explanation: A cuddy is a small, enclosed space in a boat, usually located in the bow or stern, and often used for storage, sleeping, or as a small cabin.
What is the term for a triangular sail attached to a spar called a sprit?
- Leg-of-mutton sail
- Spritsail
- Gaff sail
- Lateen sail
Correct Answer: Spritsail
Correct Answer Explanation: A spritsail is a triangular sail that’s attached to a spar called a sprit. The sprit extends from the mast to the sail’s lower corner, providing support and controlling the sail’s shape.
What is the term for a sail with a curved top and a straight bottom?
- Leg-of-mutton sail
- Spritsail
- Gaff sail
- Lateen sail
Correct Answer: Leg-of-mutton sail
Correct Answer Explanation: A leg-of-mutton sail is a characteristic sail shape with a curved top and a straight bottom, resembling the shape of a leg of mutton. It was a common sail type on many sailing vessels, including some sharpies.
What is the name of a small, punt-shaped sailing scow popular in Barnegat Bay for oyster fishing?
- The Cabin Skiff
- The Garvey
- The Pelican
- The Croatan Boat
Correct Answer: The Garvey
Correct Answer Explanation: The Garvey, a small, punt-shaped sailing scow, was commonly used for oyster fishing in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, showcasing a different type of boat used for similar fishing purposes.
What is the name of a sharpie yacht built in 1885 for Florida waters?
- The Telegraph
- The Pelican
- The Frolic
- The Lucky
Correct Answer: The Pelican
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Pelican,” built in 1885, was a sharpie yacht specifically designed for Florida waters, highlighting the sharpie’s adaptation to different geographical regions.
What is the name of a modified yawl used in the Carolina Sounds for shad fishing before the introduction of the sharpie?
- The Cabin Skiff
- The Garvey
- The Pelican
- The Croatan Boat
Correct Answer: The Croatan Boat
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Croatan Boat,” also known as the “Albemarle Sound Boat,” was a modified yawl used in the Carolina Sounds for shad fishing before the sharpie became popular in the region. It represents a pre-existing boat type that was later replaced by the more efficient sharpie.
What is the name of a double-ended, half-decked boat with a trunk cabin used on the Chesapeake Bay?
- The Cabin Skiff
- The Garvey
- The Pelican
- The Croatan Boat
Correct Answer: The Cabin Skiff
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Cabin Skiff” is a double-ended, half-decked boat with a trunk cabin, commonly used on the Chesapeake Bay for various purposes. It’s an example of a different type of boat that co-existed with the sharpie in the region.
What is the name of the first New Haven sharpie, according to Mr. M. Goodsell?
- The Telegraph
- The Pelican
- The Frolic
- The Lucky
Correct Answer: The Telegraph
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Telegraph,” according to Mr. M. Goodsell, was the first New Haven sharpie, marking the early beginnings of this iconic boat type.
How did the sharpie’s design influence modern outboard-powered fishing skiffs?
- It inspired the use of multiple outboards for increased power.
- It led to the adoption of more elaborate hull shapes for improved performance.
- It inspired the use of lighter materials, like aluminum, for construction.
- It influenced the use of simpler, more primitive hull shapes.
Correct Answer: It influenced the use of simpler, more primitive hull shapes.
Correct Answer Explanation: While modern outboard-powered fishing skiffs are more advanced, their basic hull shapes often reflect the simpler, more primitive design principles of the sharpie, showcasing the lasting influence of traditional boatbuilding techniques.
What was the approximate length of a large Carolina sharpie schooner?
- 20-25 feet
- 30-38 feet
- 40-52 feet
- 60-70 feet
Correct Answer: 40-52 feet
Correct Answer Explanation: Large Carolina sharpie schooners ranged from 40 to 52 feet in length, representing a larger and more complex adaptation of the sharpie design for commercial fishing in the Carolina Sounds.
What was the approximate cargo capacity of a 35-foot sharpie?
- 1 short ton
- 2 short tons
- 5 short tons
- 10 short tons
Correct Answer: 5 short tons
Correct Answer Explanation: A 35-foot sharpie could carry about 5 short tons of cargo, illustrating its significant carrying capacity for its size and making it a practical choice for oyster fishing and other commercial activities.
What was a key factor in the decline of the sharpie’s use in commercial fishing?
- The increasing availability of powerboats with more efficient engines.
- The decreasing demand for oysters as a food source.
- The growing popularity of the sharpie as a recreational yacht.
- The introduction of new fishing methods that made the sharpie obsolete.
Correct Answer: The increasing availability of powerboats with more efficient engines.
Correct Answer Explanation: The rise of powerboats with more efficient engines, capable of covering greater distances and carrying larger quantities of cargo, contributed to the decline of the sharpie’s use in commercial fishing. It marked a shift from traditional sailing vessels to more mechanized and technologically advanced boats.
Which of the following is NOT a key feature of the sharpie’s design?
- A shallow draft
- A centerboard
- A high freeboard
- A wide beam
Correct Answer: A high freeboard
Correct Answer Explanation: While the sharpie has a shallow draft, a centerboard, and a wide beam for stability and maneuverability, it does not have a high freeboard. A high freeboard is associated with boats designed for rough seas, whereas the sharpie was optimized for shallow water and speed.
What is the name of a type of centerboard that is lifted and lowered vertically?
- Skeg
- Daggerboard
- Centerboard
- Transom
Correct Answer: Daggerboard
Correct Answer Explanation: A daggerboard is a type of centerboard that is lifted and lowered vertically, as opposed to swinging laterally. It’s a common feature in some sailing vessels, including some sharpies.
What is the name of a small, usually wooden fin attached to the bottom of the boat, usually aft of the rudder?
- Skeg
- Daggerboard
- Centerboard
- Transom
Correct Answer: Skeg
Correct Answer Explanation: A skeg is a small fin, typically made of wood, that’s attached to the bottom of a boat, usually aft of the rudder. It helps with directional stability, particularly when the boat is sailing downwind or in rough conditions.
What was the approximate number of sharpies that could be seen at Fairhaven, Connecticut, at nightfall in 1880?
- 20
- 50
- 100
- 200
Correct Answer: 200
Correct Answer Explanation: In 1880, there were nearly 200 sharpies that could be seen at Fairhaven, Connecticut, at nightfall, showcasing the scale and prevalence of this boat type in the region during that period.
How long did it take a skilled builder and two helpers to construct a sharpie?
- 2 working days
- 6 working days
- 10 working days
- 15 working days
Correct Answer: 6 working days
Correct Answer Explanation: A skilled builder and two helpers could construct a sharpie in approximately 6 working days, highlighting the efficient and relatively quick construction process that made the sharpie an economically viable option for fishermen.
What is the name of a sharpie that is designed with both ends resembling the bow?
- A double-ended sharpie
- A centerboard sharpie
- A gaff-rigged sharpie
- A schooner-rigged sharpie
Correct Answer: A double-ended sharpie
Correct Answer Explanation: A double-ended sharpie is a type of sharpie where both ends of the hull resemble the bow, providing symmetry and allowing the boat to be used equally well in both directions.
What was the name of the sharpie schooner that was found adrift in the Chesapeake Bay, sparking the adoption of the sharpie design in the region?
- The Frolic
- The Lucky
- The Pelican
- The Telegraph
Correct Answer: The Frolic
Correct Answer Explanation: The “Frolic,” a sharpie schooner, was found adrift in the Chesapeake Bay, sparking the adoption of the sharpie design in the region. This legend highlights the impact of chance events on the spread of boat designs and their influence on regional boatbuilding traditions.
What is the name of a sailing skiff that is similar to the sharpie, but with a more traditional bow and a shallower draft?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A dinghy
- A catboat
Correct Answer: A catboat
Correct Answer Explanation: A catboat is a sailing skiff similar to the sharpie, but with a more traditional bow and a shallower draft. It’s a smaller and simpler boat, often used for recreational sailing or dinghy racing.
What is the name of a type of sailing vessel that is characterized by having two masts, with the forward mast being taller than the after mast?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A schooner
- A ketch
Correct Answer: A schooner
Correct Answer Explanation: A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by having two masts, with the forward mast being taller than the after mast. This configuration allows for a larger sail area and improved performance, making schooners well-suited for various sailing purposes.
What is the name of a type of sailing vessel that is characterized by having two masts, with the forward mast being shorter than the after mast?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A schooner
- A ketch
Correct Answer: A ketch
Correct Answer Explanation: A ketch is a type of sailing vessel that features two masts, with the forward mast being shorter than the after mast. This arrangement allows for a smaller sail area than a schooner, making it a more manageable vessel for smaller crews or in more challenging conditions.
What is the name of a type of sailing vessel that has a single mast and a single headsail?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A schooner
- A ketch
Correct Answer: A sloop
Correct Answer Explanation: A sloop is a sailing vessel that has a single mast and a single headsail. It’s a simple and versatile design, making it popular for both recreational sailing and smaller commercial fishing boats.
What is the name of a type of sailing vessel that has a single mast and a single mainsail, with a small mizzen mast in the rear?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A schooner
- A ketch
Correct Answer: A yawl
Correct Answer Explanation: A yawl is a type of sailing vessel that features a single mast and a single mainsail, with a small mizzen mast in the rear. This arrangement allows for additional sail area and provides better control, making it suitable for longer voyages or in more challenging conditions.
What is the name of a small, simple sailing boat that is typically used for recreational sailing or dinghy racing?
- A yawl
- A sloop
- A dinghy
- A catboat
Correct Answer: A dinghy
Correct Answer Explanation: A dinghy is a small, simple sailing boat, typically used for recreational sailing or dinghy racing. It’s often carried aboard larger boats as a tender for shore excursions or for sailing in calmer waters.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be propelled by oars?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A rowboat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A rowboat
Correct Answer Explanation: A rowboat is a type of boat designed to be propelled by oars. It’s a simple and versatile design, suitable for various activities like fishing, rowing, or leisurely paddling.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be propelled by paddles?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A rowboat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A canoe
Correct Answer Explanation: A canoe is a type of boat designed to be propelled by paddles. It’s often made of wood, canvas, or fiberglass and is known for its maneuverability and stability in calm waters.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be propelled by sails?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A sailboat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A sailboat
Correct Answer Explanation: A sailboat is a type of boat designed to be propelled by sails. It harnesses the power of the wind to move through the water, offering a unique and exhilarating sailing experience.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be propelled by a motor?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A motorboat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A motorboat
Correct Answer Explanation: A motorboat is a type of boat that is propelled by a motor, either outboard or inboard. It offers the convenience of mechanical power and the ability to travel greater distances and navigate different water conditions.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be propelled by a combination of sails and a motor?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A motor-sailer
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A motor-sailer
Correct Answer Explanation: A motor-sailer is a type of boat that combines the benefits of sails and a motor, allowing for efficient sailing in favorable conditions and the convenience of mechanical propulsion when needed.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be used for fishing?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A fishing boat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A fishing boat
Correct Answer Explanation: A fishing boat is a type of boat designed specifically for fishing. It often features features like livewells, bait tanks, and rod holders to facilitate fishing activities.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be used for racing?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A racing boat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A racing boat
Correct Answer Explanation: A racing boat is a type of boat designed specifically for racing. It often features aerodynamic hulls, lightweight materials, and optimized sail configurations to achieve maximum speed and performance.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be used for transportation?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A ferry
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A ferry
Correct Answer Explanation: A ferry is a type of boat designed to transport people or vehicles across bodies of water. It’s a common mode of transportation in coastal areas and islands.
What is the name of a type of boat that is designed to be used for recreational purposes?
- A skiff
- A dinghy
- A pleasure boat
- A canoe
Correct Answer: A pleasure boat
Correct Answer Explanation: A pleasure boat is a type of boat designed for recreational purposes, such as cruising, fishing, or simply enjoying time on the water.