Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Argh! Humpday Triviola Mateys!
This is an easy one to Google so hold off a bit and see if anyone out there is a savvy Pirate buff....And if ya don't mind the box it'll be 40 lashes!
What types of vessels most suited Pirates and explain how they were used and why they were desired. I'm looking for at least 4 types.
T.
The most important vessel
was the cup for the rum. ;-)
Re: Argh! Humpday Triviola Mateys!
Since Pirate comes from Pirata which is latin I�m guessing that at least one type is a oared vessel a single row or perhaps bireme type. After that, for sail, junks, schooners, and galleons, or similar with enough sail and shallow draft. I�m thinking hit and run.
You all are safe from the box
Well, shiver me timbers....no correct answers yet. Go ahead and scavage!
Re: Argh! Humpday Triviola Mateys!
Sloop, Brigantine, Schooner, Ketch
Try again.
Cutter, bark, anything improving on what they have they might take as a prize. Faster is better, hiding in coves is good, and firepower could be helpful.
Close enough...answer
Tim,
You had 3 out of the 4 I was looking for. Frankly any such ship could be commondeered by pirates...including a Ketch. You win the booty....the famed Golden Unisaw.
But here are the answers:
Schooner
Schooners were often used by pirates in North America and the Caribbean. The schooner, distinguished by two masts for and aft, could reach speeds up to 11 knots. Schooners could carry a crew of 75 men, house 8 cannons, and 4 swivel guns.
Another feature that endeared the schooner to the pirates was her shallow draft. This enabled pirates to navigate in shoal waters.
Square-Rigger
Many people do not realize that, like other sailing fleets, pirates often had more than one ship, and some pirates had flagships in their fleets. The Square-Rigger was often times used for a pirate flagship. Her size, often times 110 feet long on the main deck, allowed her to carry up to 200 men. In addition, her capacity to carry cargo "made her an excellent transport for the collected swag of a pirate flotilla."(1)
Sloop
The choice of ships by smugglers. "A rapier-like bowsprit almost as long as her hull enabled her to mount a parade of canvas that made her even more nimble than the schooner or brigantine."(2) A sloop can carry 75 men and 14 cannons.
Brigantine
The workhorse, was the preferred combat vessel by pirates. The brigantine sported two masts and was very versatile in various sea conditions. The Brigantine could carry a crew of 100 and mount 10 cannons.
And then of course there was "The Black Pearl" but we'll leave that one to Jack Sparrow and show biz. ;-)