OUTFITTING and SAILING the WOODEN SHIP,
1400-1900
Anthropology 610
When you are at home in the day time, or in the evening, you may,
upon your paper with your black-leadpencil, raise a hundred models
of supposition, which will bringyou? hand into the way of raising a
model complete and handsome. And, likewise, you will by that come to be expert andperfect in giving allowance for the sweep of the mast heads, and blocks, and dead eyes and the like, that when you come to raise a model by a true proportion, you may go ahead without fear, for it will come to you with ease enough ifyou but take any pains at all to
practice it.
Do not do as a great many do, buy books and be a little fond of them, and ajienvards lay them aside, and never practice by them until you have occasion to make use of them, and then run head-long upon the work, so that there is one gross error upon another, and then impute the folly upon the book or the author, when the fault lies wholly in the want ofpractice. For, you can not be too perfect, because the rigging of a ship is a thing that cannot be done in secret, andyou have many eyes upon you, and ifyou do not complete your work, it makes such a blot in your scutcheon that it will scarce ware out in seven years time.
Advice for students in Anth 610 fiom Thomas Miller (The Modellist, 1667)
Spring, 2006
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Crisman Office Hours: Wednesday 1-4 p.m. or by appointment 1-~h.,111 Dr. Crisman's Office
This course will use archaeological and historical sources to examine the outfitting and sailing of wooden ships between 1400 and 1900, a period popularly known as "The Age of Sail." Emphasis will be placed upon two areas of particular interest to the nautical archaeologist: 1) the use, chronological development and nomenclature of seafaring technology; 2) the material culture, social organization, daily routines, and seafaring experiences of sailors and passengers during the Age of Sail.
Course Schedule:
Week 1. Introduction to Course and Sources for Research.
Lecture topic: Sources on the outfitting of ships and seafaring life, 1400- 1900.
Week 2. Propelling the Ship, Part I.
Lecture topics: An overview of sailing rigs 1400 -1900; Masts and spars.
Reading for Weeks 2 and 3: John Harland. Seamanship in the Age of Sail (Londor,: Conway Maritime Press, 1984; reprinted 1992 by the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis), Read Chapters 2 and 3
(pp. 19-39). Reading to complete by Week 8 (there'll be a question or two on the first exam): Captain Frank Hubert Shaw. White Sails and Spindrip (New York: The Odyssey Press, 1947). Copies can be signed out from the NAP library.
Week 3. Propelling the Ship, Part 11.
Lecture topics: Spars (cont'd), standing and running rigging.
Reading:
Darcy Lever. The Young Sea Oficer 's Sheet Anchor (Leeds: Gill, 1808; many editions followed). Familiarize yourself with material covered on pp. 13-16,50-53,56 (esp. the blocks and ropes shown on Figs. 3 17 & 3 18), 57,60,63,66.
Week 4. Propelling the Ship, Part 111.
Lecture topics: Standing and running rigging (cont'd), sails.
Reading:
David Steel. Steel's Elements of Mastmaking, Sailmaking and Rigging (From the 1794
Edition) (Largo, Fl.: Edward Sweetman Co., 1982). Pp. 58-74 provide a late-18th century
overview of the sailmaking materials, tools, and techniques.
Week 5. The Equipment of a Ship, Part I.
Lecture topics: Steering; lateral resistance; ground tackle.
Reading: Brian Lavery. The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815 (London: Conway Maritime Press, 1987). Read Parts I and Il (pp. 9-50).
William Brady. The Kedge-Anchor or Young Sailors 'Assistant (New York: Published by the Author, 1849; Dover Reprint, 2002). Handling cables and anchors discussed pp. 104-113,149-152,155, 163,191-197,201,224,247,290-291.
Week 6. The Equipment of a Ship, Part 11.
Lecture topics: Pumps; small boats.
Reading:
Lavery. Arming and Fitting. Read Parts Nand X (pp. 66-72,207-232).
Thomas Oertling. Ships 'Bilge Pumps, A History of Their Development, 1500-1 900
(College Station, Tx.: Texas A&M University Press, 1996). Have a look through this, Brady. The Kedge-Anchor. Boat handling pp. 152-1 53,240-246,326.
Week 7. External Hull Maintenance.
Lecture topic: Nathaniel Uring's near-disaster: Keeping your ship sound & tight.
Reading:
Lavery. Arming and Fitting. Read Part III (pp. 56-62).
Miscellaneous authors. Binder with offprints of sheathing articles, NAP Library Reserve.
Week 8. The Defense of a Ship.
Lecture topic: Ordnance and options: Fight, flee, or surrender.
Reading:
Lavery. Arming and Fitting. Read Parts V, VI, and VII (pp. 80-144).
Week 9. Lading the Ship.
Lecture topics: Ballast; containers; stowage.
Reading:
Lavery. Arming and Fitting. Read Part IX(pp. 186-206).
Brady. The Kedge-Anchor. Read 103-104.
Reading to complete by Week 14 (there'll be a question or two on the final exam): Daniel S. Parrott. Tall Ships Down: The Last Voyages ofthe Pamir, Albatross, Marques, Pride of Baltimore, and Maria Asumpta (Camden, Maine and New York: International Marine and McGraw-Hill, 2004). Copies can be signed out fiom the NAP library.
Week 10. Manning the Ship.
Lecture topics: Hierarchy; recruiting; accommodations.
Readings: Lavery. Arming and Fitting. Read Parts VIII and XI (pp. 15 1-1 85,238-252). 4 Brian Lavery. Nelson 's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization 1793-1815 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994). Read Parts IV,V and VI (pp. 88-144).
Richard Henry Dana, Jr. The Seaman S Friend, A Treatise on Practical Seamanship (First published 1841 ;Dover reprint from the 14'~ edition, Boston: Thomas Groom & Co., 1879). Read Part II and Part III pp. 131-225.
IMPROVIDENCE OF SAILORS.
-
Week 11. The Seafaring Life.
Lecture topics: Shipboard routines; health; sickness.
Readings: j
Lavery. Nelson 's Navy. Read Part IX(pp. 194-2 16).
Lecture topics: Organization of crew; working the rig; sailing maneuvers.
Readings:
Lavery. Nelson 's Navy. Read Part VIII (pp. 1 57- 17 1).
Harland. Seamanship. Read Chapter 1 (pp.10-1 8).
Lecture topic: Common seagoing disasters and their remedies.
Reading:
Harland. Seamanship. Read Chapter 22 (pp. 294-3 12).
Brady. The Kedge-Anchor. To get an idea of sea hazards and how to handle them, look
over Parts V, VI, and VII (pp. 17 1-228).
Short Class at regularly scheduled time; date of Galveston trip TBA.
Reading: Jy Patricia Bellis Bixel. Sailing Ship Elissa (College Station: Texas A&M University Press,
1998).
Attendance of all classes and participation in discussions are highly encouraged.
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This course will meet once a week on Wednesday mornings ftom 9 to 12 for lectures by Dr. Crisman or guest speakers. Questions and comments are strongly encouraged, as is the taking of detailed notes (two short exams will test your knowledge of the material covered in the lectures and readings). Outside of class your attention should be directed to two projects (described below). Project 2 will be especially time-intensive, and all participants are encouraged to get an early start on the research and drafting. Please keep Dr, Crisman up to date on your progress and bring in drawings for regular review.
Project 1. Read and review of a primary account of seafaring (a journal or memoir) (30% of final grade)
Select an original journal or memoir describing a voyage, a series of voyages, or a career at sea (see the Hakluyt Society publications for examples). Your selection must be approved by Dr. Crisman beforehand. Prepare a 10 to 20 page review (following the term paper guidelines) that provides a historical context for the account and summarizes the book's contents, highlighting references to the outfitting and sailing of vessels. This might include, but does not have to be limited to, the topics listed in your syllabus. What does this account tell us about contemporary ship construction and seafaring technology, seafaring practices, or shipboard life and routines? How usehl is it likely to be for nautical archaeologists? What is the writer's viewpoint -officer, ordinary sailor, or passenger? What motivated the author to write this account? How reliable does it appear to be?
Your paper should be more than just a narrative that summarizes the book's contents, I will be expecting synthesis and analysis of the account. Reference specific pages in your text. Be scholarly and informative, yet succinct. Maps or tables summarizing voyages, vessel types, duties, or other types of data are welcome. Begin looking for your book Week 1. Complete selection and approval by Week 3. Review due by 5 p.m. on March 22 (Week 9). Late papers will receive a lower grade.
Project 2. Prepare a spar and rigging plan for a sailing vessel circa 1400-1900 (60% of final grade: 30% rig plans and 30% rig paper)
Select a naval or merchant vessel, preferably one with a set of lines drawings, and reconstruct the sailing rig. Tables of spar dimensions or rules of proportions can be found for many vessel types, but your evidence should also include contemporary illustrations and documents, and (of course) archaeological data. Your reconstruction may depend heavily upon informed conjecture. Seek out as many sources (especially archaeological sources) as possible and build a strong case for the dimensions, arrangement, and components of your ship's rig.
Your final results will consist of a minimum of two inked plans: 1) a mast and spar profile, and 2) the mast and spar profile showing standing and running rigging. Other drawings of rigging details are welcome. This project also includes preparation of a 10 to 20 page paper (following term paper guidelines), describing the elements, dimensions and qualities of your rig, and reviewing the evidence upon which you based your reconstruction. This is a scholarly paper -cite your sources and include a bibliography.
Your final grade will be based upon the thoroughness of your research, the detail, accuracy and neatness of your
finished products and the quality and scholarship of your paper. The degree of difficulty of your project will also be
factored into the final grade. You should have a hull and rig type selected no later than Week 4 (this must be
approved by Dr. Crisman). The final products (inked drawings and paper) are due by 5 p.m. on April 19 (Week 13)
by 5 p.m. Late projects will receive a lower grade.
4. Two short exams. 10% of final grade.
Your kaowledge of the topics covered in this class, as well as your diligence in taking notes and reading, will be
tested in two short exams (5% of final grade each). March 8 and April 26. These are closed book exams, bring
yourself and a pencil or pen.
Week Date To~ic 1) January 18 Introduction and Sources. January 25 Propelling the Ship, Part I: Sailing Rigs, Masts & Spars.
February 1 Propelling the Ship, Part II: Spars, Standing and Running
Rigging.
(Project 1 book selected and approved)
February 8 Propelling the Ship, Part III: Rigging and Sails. (Project 2 ship & rig selected and approved) February 15 Steering, Centerboards, and Ground Tackle. February 22 Pumps and Small Boats. March 1 Hull Maintenance and Sheathing. March 8 Defending the Ship (Short exam on class readings and lectures) March 15 SPRING BREAK March 22 Lading the Ship. (Project 1paper due at 5 p.m.) March 29 Manning the Ship. (Project 2 pencil drawings due) April 5 Seafaring Life. April 12 Ship Handling Under Sail. April 19 Coping with Disasters (Project 2 inked drawings and paper due at 5 p.m.) April 26 (Short exam on class readings and lectures)
Field Trip to Elbsa in Galveston, Texas -Date to be announced