Reference book on 18th Century sailing vessels

[peterbrowne]

Looking for a fairly comprehensive encyclopedic reference (book) on 18th century vessels.  It needs to cover all things from keel up, including construction, rigging and fittings and their use.

Edited November 3, 2020 by peterbrowne

[Blue Ensign]

That's a very tall order.

There are books on specific ships, books on specific ship types, books on specific periods, books on specific aspects -  rigging, construction, arming and fitting etc,  but all in one volume with great detail, I don't know of one.

 

B.E.

[Jaager]

The ships of 1701  were only superficially related to those of 1800.   Although, unlike what happened over the next 100 years, the basic technology as far as building materials and propulsive technology was pretty much the same, there was a significant evolution over that 100 year span.   If you have to cut it to an unrealistic bare bones,  I suggest the following will cover the the subject in a broad manner:

 

SCANTLINGS OF THE ROYAL NAVY 1719-1805
by Allan Yedlinsky

 

THE 74 GUN SHIP Practical Treatise of Naval Art 1780
by Jean Boudriot - all 4 volumes.

[Blue Ensign]

Seamanship in the age of sail is an excellent choice. 👍

 

B.E.

[allanyed]

Hello Peter,'

There is no single book in any library I have seen that will answer all questions from keel to top of the mast.  But, if  you intend to build a specific British vessel from the mid/late 18th century, Endeavor, there are fewer books needed to answer most questions and as it has been probably been modeled thousands of times before, you will have a wealth of advice available.  If you go with something that has not be built  before, or at least not very often,  once you  choose a specific ship or a nation and  type and era, then it is pretty easy to home in on appropriate reference books.   There are books on framing, fitting, rigging, ships' boats,  capstans,  and on and on.   It may turn out you will wind up with four or more books once you choose a vessel.   The style of your build also makes a difference, kit versus scratch, plank on frame, plank on bulkhead or other method.  

Welcome to MSW!

Allan

[Roger Pellett]

It’s complicated.

 

To use your example.  Endeavor was a vessel built for the coastal coal trade.  The Royal Navy bought her for Cook’s expedition.  While colliers were known for their stout construction they were not built to the same standards as purpos built warships constructed in Royal Navy dockyards.

 

likewise, construction standards varied by nationality.  When the Royal Navy captured American vessels, they often described them as “lightly built.”  When the Royal Navy tried to built ships to designs of captured American vessels they were often overbuilt.

 

First decide what vessel you intend to model, then buy the references that best suit your project.

 

Roger

[Jaager]

Given the source of your posted link, it would serve you to read some of the posts here concerning pirated model kits and the sites that promote this practice - as short sighted and self defeating as pirating is. 

Understand that such a stand requires a want of moral and ethical integrity.  That lack of ethics is a broad based one and not limited to just pirating.  Be careful of anything that involves trust and always CYA there.

 

I took your original inquiry for a single reference to be a literal and sincere request and came as close to matching it I could.  As you are now beginning a sweeping arc on this subject, some time spent chasing the numerous posts here about the volumes available on this subject.  The reality of it is that it takes a library to cover the subject.  There was a blooming of available references in the 70's-90's.  Most of those volumes are out of print or rapidly approaching that status.  The years have taught me to view new books as skeet.  Your window of opportunity to acquire them is often fleeting.