Jump to content

Windlass on 18th Century longboat


Recommended Posts

I am scratching my head over this.

Many of are building the longboat, and the plans shows a very low seated windlass.

I have been thinking over this and the purpose of it, can anyone shed some light in this matter?

 

 

Please, visit our Facebook page!

 

Respectfully

 

Per aka Dr. Per@Therapy for Shipaholics 
593661798_Keepitreal-small.jpg.f8a2526a43b30479d4c1ffcf8b37175a.jpg

Finished: T37, BB Marie Jeanne - located on a shelf in Sweden, 18th Century Longboat, Winchelsea Capstan

Current: America by Constructo, Solö Ruff, USS Syren by MS, Bluenose by MS

Viking funeral: Harley almost a Harvey

Nautical Research Guild Member - 'Taint a hobby if you gotta hurry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A work boat with oars and sailing capabilities which means a mast. The mast and it's rig plus the sail were probably stepped, rigged and used with straight manpower without the aid of the windless. Being a work boat it would be necessary to load barrels, timbers, new and used rope coils and also have the ability to ship and carry out a Kedge Anchor. Probably many other uses where a windless in a boat would be useful. A windless, mast, boom and an assortment of blocks and rope could be  great labor saving devices when used by experienced seamen.

jud

Edited by shiloh
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Per

 

Pages 228-229 of Lavery's Arming and Fitting give a good synopsis of the windlass.  As written by Lavery,launches, which pretty much replaced longboats on ships of 20 guns or more by 1780, had windlasses.   In addition to the windlass would often be found a davit.   Prior to the davit there would have been a lignum vitae sheave over which line would run out.   The davit and windlass combination was necessary when lifting the buoy rope in order to lift  the crown of a 3 ton anchor that had become embedded in the bottom.  No boat crew could do this without the aid of the windlass.   The davit rested on a pivot pin as shown on the photo.  Hope this helps.

 

Allan

post-42-0-28721800-1445764440_thumb.jpg

post-42-0-92959800-1445764770_thumb.jpg

Edited by allanyed

PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series.   Click on http://trafalgar.tv   There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time.  THANK YOU

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BOATS OF MEN OF WAR                                         
MAY,W E
NIP/Chatham  1999

 

describes an interesting addition:  two tubular trunks, one on either side of the keel at the windlass, thru the bottom of the Launch.

Ropes up thru the trunks to the windlass could lift and hold for transport - anchors and cannon.  A solution to a potential tipping or stern dipping problem. Investigation of this was begun in1818.

NRG member 45 years

 

Current:  

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner -  framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner -  timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835  ship - timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Allan,

that explanation and pictures along with Jaagers it all make sense. Thank you both of you.

 

Please, visit our Facebook page!

 

Respectfully

 

Per aka Dr. Per@Therapy for Shipaholics 
593661798_Keepitreal-small.jpg.f8a2526a43b30479d4c1ffcf8b37175a.jpg

Finished: T37, BB Marie Jeanne - located on a shelf in Sweden, 18th Century Longboat, Winchelsea Capstan

Current: America by Constructo, Solö Ruff, USS Syren by MS, Bluenose by MS

Viking funeral: Harley almost a Harvey

Nautical Research Guild Member - 'Taint a hobby if you gotta hurry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Per,

 

It looks like others have answered your question.  For reference though, here are a couple photos from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England's website that show the detail of the windlass in longboats.

 

post-20029-0-38069500-1445795334_thumb.jpg

 

post-20029-0-88887000-1445795344_thumb.jpg

 

Erik

Edited by Erik W
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...