Longboat

A longboat was an open boat used on-board ships during the age of the sailing ships. The original name was 'Shallop' but was changed to longboat in the 18th century.[1] A ship or vessel would carry several ship's boats for various uses. The most important would be a longboat, an open boat to be rowed by up to eight or ten oarsmen. The longboat had rowing benches designed for up to two men to an oar. A longboat was designed for use in rough water and could be rigged for sails.

Two longboats with crews

One of its main uses was as a pulling boat. Another was to weigh anchor.[2] When a ship was at anchor, longboats carried people and supplies between ship and shore.[2]

References
  1. Howard Irving Chapelle, American Small Sailing Craft, Their Design, Development, and Construction (New York: Norton, 1951), p. 10
  2. Brian Lavery, The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815 (Annapolis, ND: Naval Institute Press, 1987), p. 218
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