Exploring The Seas: What Is A Gig Boat?

A gig is a type of boat that was optimised for speed under oar and was usually fitted with a sailing rig. It was in use by Deal boatmen in the 18th century and was soon adopted by the Royal Navy to combat smuggling. Gigs were lightly built, usually with a clinker construction, and were narrow for their length. They were propelled by four, six, or eight oars, with each crew member handling a single oar. The captain's gig was a boat used on naval ships as the captain's taxi, and over the years, it has increased in size and has been crafted from more durable materials.

Gig's naval origins

Gigs naval origins

The gig is a type of boat optimised for speed under oar, usually fitted with a sailing rig. The gig was in use by Deal boatmen in the 18th century and was first adopted by the Royal Navy in the 1760s to combat smuggling. The Navy bought thirty cutters to combat the issue, but Deal boatbuilders recommended a different design—the gig. The Navy accepted the recommendation, and captains of larger warships soon sought permission to substitute a gig for one of the heavier boats. The gig became part of the usual complement of ship's boats used in warships.

The gig was also used in the US Navy, where the boat provided for the transport of the captain was termed the "captain's gig". This was originally a traditional wooden, oared vessel, but the term was retained as boats with engines took over this role. These powered vessels varied by the size of the ship, with aircraft carriers and battleships typically assigned a double cabin cruiser that was 33 to 35 feet in length.

In the Royal Navy usage of the 19th century, the captain's gig was referred to as "the galley". In the latter half of the 18th century, the Royal Navy had a long-standing relationship with the boat builders of Deal, from whom they bought clinker-built yawls and cutters. The working boats of Deal were well known to all in the Navy when they came out to warships anchored in the Downs.

Gigs were lightly built, usually of clinker construction. They were narrow for their length. Typically, in naval gigs, a beam of 5 feet 6 inches was used for hull lengths from 20 to 28 feet—propelled by between four, six, or eight oars. Gigs were the most popular of the private boats; Nelson had one on HMS Elephant in 1801. By 1808, the Navy had accepted the gig on vessels other than the anti-smuggling cutters. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Royal Navy gigs were available in six different lengths (18 ft to 26 ft) for issue to British warships.

Deal boatbuilders

The gig was optimised for speed and agility, making it ideal for catching smugglers. It was usually fitted with a sailing rig and had a narrow build, typically with a beam of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) and hull lengths ranging from 20 to 28 feet (6.1 to 8.5 m). The oars were always single-banked, with four to eight oars propelled by an equal number of rowers.

The Royal Navy accepted the recommendation to use gigs, and they soon became a preferred choice for naval captains due to their speed and ease of launch compared to heavier barges. The Navy eventually offered gigs in six different lengths, ranging from 18 to 26 feet, for issue to British warships.

The gig's design

Gigs are a type of boat that was optimised for speed under oar. They were usually fitted with a sailing rig for appropriate conditions. Gigs were used by Deal boatmen in the 18th century and were soon adopted by the Royal Navy to combat smuggling.

Gigs were lightly built, usually with clinker construction. They were narrow for their length, with a typical beam of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) used for hull lengths from 20 to 28 feet (6.1 to 8.5 m). They were propelled by four, six, or eight oars, with each person operating a single oar on alternating sides of the boat.

The design of gigs included a high wineglass transom, full keel, straight stem, and rounded sides. There was very little rocker in the keel, and the gunwales were mostly straight from bow to stern.

The captain's gig was a specific type of gig used on naval ships as the captain's taxi. It was smaller and lighter than a longboat, barge, or pinnace, and was typically crewed by four oarsmen and a coxswain.

Over time, the design of the captain's gig evolved with new technologies and materials. Modern captain's gigs are larger and can transport more sailors. They are now often powered by engines, although some modern craft with sails are still referred to as captain's gigs.

The gig in the US Navy

A gig is a type of boat that was optimised for speed under oar and usually fitted with a sailing rig. In the US Navy, the boat used for the transport of the captain is termed the "captain's gig". This was originally a traditional wooden boat, but in recent times, it has been replaced by a fibre-glass hulled powerboat.

The captain's gig was originally a wooden, oared vessel, but the term was retained as boats powered with engines took over this role. These powered vessels varied by the size of the ship, with aircraft carriers and, until the mid-1990s, battleships, typically assigned a double cabin cruiser that was 33 to 35 feet (10 to 11 m) in length. These boats were typically painted with a white superstructure, a grey hull, a red waterline stripe, and a black hull below the waterline.

Captain's gigs were eliminated from all US Navy ships in early 2008 as an economy move. However, the term "gig" is still used in science fiction, such as in Star Trek, where it is referred to as a "captain's yacht".

One notable example of a captain's gig in the US Navy is the saga of the Saginaw Gig. In 1870, the captain's 22-foot gig played a crucial role in the survival of the crew of the USS Saginaw, which ran aground on a reef near Kure Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands. The gig was extensively modified to withstand a 1,400-mile trip to Oahu for help. The five-man volunteer crew, led by the executive officer, Lieutenant John Talbot, included two ship's crew and two contractors (hardhat divers). Despite facing numerous challenges, including sickness and food shortages, the crew of the gig etched their names near the after hatch, believing they would not survive.

After 28 days at sea, the crew of the gig sighted land near Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai. Unfortunately, as they approached the shore, their boat was carried into the heavy surf, and two of the men drowned. Only one survivor remained, Coxswain William Halford, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry and heroic conduct. The Saginaw's gig was later preserved as a memorial to inspire midshipmen by its legacy of survival and heroism.

The gig in popular culture

The term "gig" has been used in popular culture in various ways. In the science fiction genre, for example, in Star Trek, a small auxiliary spacecraft is referred to as a "captain's yacht".

In the US Navy, the term "captain's gig" is used for the boat that transports the captain. This term was initially used for a traditional wooden, oared vessel, but it has been retained as more modern, engine-powered boats have taken on this role.

In music, "The Great Gig in the Sky" is a well-known song by Pink Floyd. A Reddit user recalled hearing a bit of this song in a video game trailer.

In literature, "gig" is used to refer to a type of boat in the book "Treasure Island".

Gigs are also mentioned in the book "The Wreck of the Zanzibar", which may be referring to the boat type.

In art, a painting by John Christian Schetky, titled "Royal Museums Greenwich", depicts a gig boat.

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