The Migrations of an American Boat Type by Howard Irving Chapelle

"The Migrations of an American Boat Type" by Howard Irving Chapelle is a historical account written in the mid-20th century. This book focuses on the origins and development of the New Haven sharpie, a flat-bottomed sailing skiff primarily designed for oyster fishing, and traces its spread along the eastern coast of the United States. Chapelle, serving as curator of transportation at the Smithsonian Institution, meticulously documents the evolution of this boat type, highlighting its various adaptations and innovations in form and function across different regions. In his examination of the sharpie's lineage, Chapelle details how the boat originated in New Haven, Connecticut, in the 1840s and quickly proved suited for various maritime tasks due to its economical design, speed, and seaworthiness. The book covers the sharpie's variations, including designs adopted in Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina, where the boat underwent adaptations for local fisheries. Chapelle notes the sharpie's impact on maritime culture, including its role in both commercial fishing and yacht racing. Furthermore, he discusses how the sharpie influenced subsequent boat designs despite its decline with the advent of motorized fishing vessels, reinforcing its significance in American maritime history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Download for free

For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.

Other formats & older devices

About this eBook

Author Chapelle, Howard Irving, 1901-1975
Title The Migrations of an American Boat Type
Credits Produced by Colin Bell, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 67.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Language English
LoC Class Q: Science
Subject Sharpies (Sailboats)
Category Text
eBook-No. 29285
Release Date
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 414 downloads in the last 30 days.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!