When did catheads start being used?

[bear]

Ahoy Mates

 

In what era did catheads start being used on ships? I have not been able to find out what time period they were put into use.

 

Thanks

Keith

[allanyed]

Keith,

 

What nation?  The earliest date I see in Goodwin's Construction and Fitting of British Ships of War is 1664.   Laughton's book Old Ship Figure Heads and Sterns mentions the Dutch having Catheads closer to 1630 and those were more on the head itself rather at the corners of the head.

 

Allan

Edited May 24, 2016 by allanyed

[popeye2sea]

Keith,

 

Another way to go after the research would be from the other direction, so to speak.  Check out the development of the anchor.  See if you can find out when they got too large to be hauled up without using some kind of purchase.

 

Regards,

Henry

[jbshan]

Just as a guess, mind, the famous illustration of a 'Kraek, by W. A.' has a large focs'l jutting out over the hawse area and no catheads.  It wouldn't surprise me if the use of a small 'crane' for lifting the anchors became necessary when the focs'l no longer jutted out so far and could be used to handle the anchors.

[popeye2sea]

Good point!

[jbshan]

The W. A. image is c. 1470.  An Italian engraving of 1470-1480 showing a very similar ship has what may be a cathead.

You pays your money and takes your chances, but at least it gives a time frame for the transition.

Edited May 24, 2016 by jbshan

[davyboy]

The Vasa 1628 and The Sovereign of the Seas 1637 both had catheads but they were fitted differently. Protruding forward from the beakhead bulkhead at an outboard angle they were positioned on the upper gundeck as far as I'm aware. No doubt other ships of that time had similar arrangements. Later of course they were moved up onto the forecastle,Goodwin says ca 1656.

 

This can be seen on the Vasa itself and on Paynes' engraving/etching of the Sovereign.

 

Dave 

Edited May 24, 2016 by davyboy