What are SHALLOPS and How are they Different

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

🔥This video has SUBTITLES🔥

[@warrenbroom7126]

I will be making this kit soon. Shouldn’t the boat have some kind of flooring in it to protect the planking?

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

As a matter of fact, yes. It ought to have stretchers at the very least, but likely enough may have had gratings, too.

[@hopecarpenter1330]

Thank you for all this info. I am creating an illustration of the Planters who came a shore in the 1620s here in my neighborhood of Bridge St Neck in Salem, MA. Bridge Street had a rope walk very early on. Today I just realized we may have made the rope the was used when they hung the people accused of witchcraft...yikes. Thanks again!

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

Thank you for watching! Well, depends when the rope walk was built. The hangings were finally ended in 1694, when the puritans - sweet people, to be sure - attempted to hang the wife of the ex timber merchant turned governor Phips for witchcraft. He put an end to the hangings and trials then.

[@CAPNMAC82]

Given the efficients of a sprit sail rig, I'd argue two things about the kit. One, that the sail is too short in the hoist, and too long across the leech--this would be a difficult sail to manage with only 1 or 2 men sailing. That in mind brings up my second observation-- that spritsail rigs were typically paired. This gave better efficiency, especially upwind, and also made for smaller sails and spars more suited for fewer sailors (and easier portages).

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

As a modern sailor (post 19th c) I fully agree with you on the hoist. However, I suspect that the kit began life as modified version of the long boat of Vasa, which survives with spars and oars. She definitely had only one mast with a sprit rig. The only difference between the long boat and Mr Nikitin’s shallop is that the Vasa boat is flat-bottomed ( a bit like a Swampscot dory…). As far as I can tell from the spars, the long boat would have had fairly low-aspect rig. Yet, 17th c Dutch marine art depicts vessels with higher aspect spritsails, too

[@nathanbishopmacdonald7168]

I am a historical interpreter at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton. In the mid 18th Century, the colony exported 30 million tonnes of codfish annually, and the majority of that fish was caught using Chaloupes (Shallops). Our sources tell us that these would normally be crewed by 3 men. Do you think what you just described is the same type of boat or would the New France variety be smaller?

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

Frankly, I believe they would have looked quite a bit different. Quite a few terms Changed meaning with time and shallops vs chaloupes are a case in point. I doubt the ones used off Cap Breton would have had leeboards. Somewhere in the archives, port registry, etc., there ought to be a record of their tonnage. I suspect you are right and they may have been a little smaller than the one modelled. They might have have two-masted rigs, too, as the Biscay double shallops did.

[@davidedel31]

Mr Kroum, thanks for the very informative video on Shallops. Question, is there any good reference books on Shallops? Another question was curious about was that a lot of trade was established in the Mediterranean between countries (Romans, Grecian, etc) what happened to those ships or boats, Were the woods used for other purposes (building, fire wood, etc). Not sure if this question can be answered, but was curious>

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

There aren’t that many books about shallops. Bradford mentions them in his History of Plymouth Plantation. Captain Smith mentions them in his Seaman’s Grammar but all he says is that they were smaller than a long boat and bigger than a skiff. William Baker who designed the Mayflower II wrote a book called Sloops and Shallops and there he dedicates a full chapter to Shallops.

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

In the Ancient world, maritime trade was of vital importance. It was how Rome was fed: grain was brought from Egypt in huge grain carriers. Currently the largest Roman ship (partially) excavated by French archaeologists is the wreck from Madrague de Giens: about 40 meters in length and at least 400 tons displacement. What happened to the ships: some sank, some were abandoned, some were broken up. Timber was reused extensively reused: both for building other ships and for other construction. No doubt some were just used for firewood, too.

[@davidedel31]

Hi Mr Kroum want to thank you for the information. I was able to find the books Plymouth Plantations, and the Sloops and Shallops. Also found a book on John Smiths Chesapeake Voyages 1607-1609.They had two illustrations in the books showing the John Smith boat, referring to it in both as a barge. Also want to thank you for the interview with Sea Books. Was able to get some books from them. Again thanks you for the information and also some very informative videos.

[@denisv4385]

Thanks, that's informative!

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

Thank you!

[@Giovanni_Tosatti]

Thanks for this very interesting video. You tells the story in a very attractive way, it's a pleasure watch these videos. Thank you! 👏👏👍

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michealsiemer4281]

It sounds as if the shallop was a "utility" type of vessel. No real plans, as you state, but this is what we need so we will build it for this purpose. Specifications and dimensions were "standard" for the type?

[@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist]

Not quite. There was variation in dimensions, but not too wide one. Most of the actual dimensions we have seem to be coming from court cases. As to usage- yes, it seems to have been a utility vessel that could be adapted for whatever purpose the owner wanted