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Whaling boats, also known as whaleboats, are small vessels that are used to hunt whales. They are typically crewed by six people, who work together to capture and kill whales. In the 1700s, whaleboats were double-ended with single-banked oars and a steering oar. By the 1800s, whaleboats had adopted sails, which allowed them to approach whales more easily before harpooning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people in a whaling boat | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
- Whaling boats in the 1700s had a crew of six
- Two small whaling boats would be lowered from the main ship to hunt whales
- Each small whaling boat had six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line
- Whaling boats were double-ended with single-banked oars and a steering oar
- Whaling boats did not use sails before 1825
Whaling boats in the 1700s had a crew of six
Whaling boats were used during the American Revolutionary War, with one raid in 1777 involving 230 men. In 1782, two fleets of whaleboats fought a bloody battle on Long Island Sound, with every man involved either killed or injured.
Whaling boats were used to hunt whales, which were primarily hunted for their oil. Two small boats would be lowered from the main ship, each containing six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line coiled up in the bottom of the boat attached to the harpoon.
The crew would rapidly unstep the mast as the harpooned whale moved off, towing the boat behind. This technique of approaching a whale prior to harpooning became preferred after 1825, when sails began to be used on whale boats.
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Two small whaling boats would be lowered from the main ship to hunt whales
Whaling boats are small boats that are lowered from the main ship to hunt whales. In the 1600s, a whaleship would carry half a dozen or more whaling boats, which would have a crew of six. Illustrations from the 1700s show double-ended whaling boats with a crew of six, single-banked oars and a steering oar.
In 1856, Alexander Trotter, a doctor on board the Enterprise, wrote in his journal that two small whaling boats would be lowered from the main ship to hunt whales. Each boat contained six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line coiled up in the bottom of the boat attached to the harpoon.
Upon reaching the whale, the men would fire their harpoons and lances and then tow the whale back to the main ship. This technique of approaching a whale prior to harpooning was known as "sailing". The crew would rapidly unstep the mast as the harpooned whale moved off, towing the boat behind.
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Each small whaling boat had six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line
Whaling boats, or whaleboats, have been used for centuries. In the 17th century, there is little information on the boats themselves, but it is known that they were likely specialised types, with each whaleship carrying at least half a dozen whaleboats.
Illustrations from the early 18th century show double-ended whaleboats with a crew of six, single-banked oars and a steering oar. By the 1720s, whaleboats were still typically crewed by six men, with the addition of a loaded harpoon gun and a long line coiled up in the bottom of the boat, attached to the harpoon.
In the 19th century, two small boats would be lowered from the main ship upon sighting a whale. These small boats, or whaleboats, each contained six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line. Once they reached the whale, the men would fire their harpoons and lances and then tow the whale back to the main ship.
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Whaling boats were double-ended with single-banked oars and a steering oar
The whaling boat's hull was narrow and sharp-ended, achieving the best possible speed for the length of the waterline. The boat was also light and swift, with a retractable keel, which made it ideal for whaling crews. The preferred technique for hunting whales was to approach under sail, as this was less likely to startle the animal than under oars. Once the whale was sighted, the crew would rapidly unstep the mast and use oars to manoeuvre.
The steering oar was an essential part of the whaling boat, allowing the crew to control the direction of the boat. The choice of places to put a steering oar in a vessel is generally limited to about three places, and in a double-ended vessel with no transom, this comes down to two: the larboard or the styrbord side.
The whaling boat's design and equipment, including the single-banked oars and steering oar, allowed for effective whale hunting. The boat's light construction and superior handling made it ideal for approaching and harpooning whales, with a crew of six working together to capture these massive creatures.
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Whaling boats did not use sails before 1825
Whaling boats were used to catch whales, either from whaling ships or from the shore. These boats were open and usually had double-ended, clinker-built hulls of light construction. The hulls were narrow and sharp-ended to achieve the best possible speed for the length of the waterline.
Before 1825, whaling boats did not use sails. Instead, they were rowed by a crew of six men. Illustrations from 1711 and the 1720s show double-ended whaling boats with single-banked oars and a steering oar. The bollards (or loggerheads, in American terminology) on which the whale-rope would be controlled are clearly depicted.
In the 19th century, whaling boats were used to hunt whales primarily for their oil. Whale oil had many uses, from lighting to lubricants for machinery. When a whale was sighted, two small boats would be lowered from the main ship into the water. Each boat contained six men, a loaded harpoon gun, and a long line coiled up in the bottom of the boat attached to the harpoon. On reaching the whale, the men would fire their harpoons and lances, and then tow the whale back to the main ship.
By 1825, the British had 24 whaling vessels in Japan. The number of vessels being fitted out annually for the southern fishery declined from 68 in 1820 to 31 in 1824. In 1825, there were 90 ships in the southern fishery, but by 1843, only nine vessels were left.
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Frequently asked questions
A whaling boat typically has a crew of six.
Each crew member has a specific role, such as steering the boat, controlling the whale-rope, firing the harpoon gun, and lancing and towing the whale back to the main ship.
Whaling boats are typically double-ended with single-banked oars and a steering oar.
Whaling techniques have evolved, with the use of sails becoming the preferred approach to harpooning whales before towing them back to the main ship.
Yes, illustrations from the 1710s and 1720s depict whaling boats with a crew of six, consistent with the typical crew size.
