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Hudson River Sloops in the Age of Sail
Although sloops were the most common and well known of the sailing ships on the river they were far from being the only ones. Fluyts and wijdschips, schallops and schooners, gundeloes, frigates and hoys ... they came in all sizes and shapes they were designed for commerce, pleasure and war. The sloop was the forerunner in the establishment of the vast commerce on the Hudson which reached an extent that was exceeded by few, if any, rivers in the world. This vessel played an important a part in the development and growth of the State of New York, particularly in connection with the Erie Canal, causing the city of New York to rise to be the chief city of the United States. The sloop, as its name indicates, is of Dutch origin. They called her a sloëp. It is the same word as the French chalupe, and the Portuguese chalupa. In its simplest form, it is a vessel of one mast, carrying a mainsail, jib, and generally a topsail. The Dutch settlers of New Netherland, as well as the English and French, saw the advantages of the sloop rig for the commerce on the river and the Sound. The sloops of the Hudson were about of the same size, say one hundred tons’ capacity and about 65 to 75 feet in length. They were full forward, like the other Dutch vessels, and had a high quarter-deck, which is a survival of the poop-decks of the medieval vessels. The mast was placed well forward, thus giving the boat a large mainsail, and small jib. The quarterdeck afforded space for the cabin accommodations for the passengers of the packet sloops, many of which before the days of steamboats were fitted up as such, and carried no bulky freight, only parcels, letters, etc. There was an ample deck for promenade or dancing, so altogether the packet sloop was far from being an uncomfortable means of conveyance. |
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The Sloops
of the Hudson River Between the exploration by Henry Hudson's Half Moon and Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont historic voyage from New York to Albany, there were two centuries where the North River sloop dominated Hudson River travel and shipping. The sloop was the forerunner of the vast commerce on the Hudson and an important part in the development and growth of the State of New York. The sloops did not feel the competition of the early steamboats, and in fact often made better time between Albany and New York, when the wind was fair. Nor, at first, did the sloops appear to have difficulty in withstanding the competition of the towboat companies. But with the great increase in the size and number of cargoes, necessitating vessels of larger tonnage to transport the commodities to the New York markets with reasonable despatch and regularity, the sailing vessels of the Hudson were doomed. They made a good fight, however, and with their defeat has disappeared one of the most picturesque features of the Hudson River. Written in 1908 at the time of the three hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson and the centenary celebration of Fulton’s success in steam navigation, this book documents the 200 year history of sloops and schooners on the Hudson River, and describes the role of the Hudson River sloop, the old time sloop captains, and some of the infamous sloop and steamboat disasters on the river. This is the Book that inspired Pete Seeger to build the Sloop Clearwater |
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Voyage of the Sloop ExperimentAlthough most Hudson River sloops sailed only on the river, the sloop Experiment made voyages to Maderia (off the coast of Africa), the West Indies and China. These were extraordinary voyages which created a sensation in late 18th century America. The sloop Experiment, which sailed out of the Hudson River bound for China in 1785, is a story of a small ship and brave crew which is as amazing and interesting today as it was in that wind-powered age of so long ago.Voyage of the Sloop Experiment |
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Sloop Clearwater
In 1966, a handful of river-lovers decided to change the course of events that was destroying the Hudson, and reclaim a natural treasure for us all. They wanted to dramatize the river´s plight, recall its history, and help guide its future. They wanted to provide their fellow citizens with a first-hand look at the neglect and pollution of the river, and move them to action. So they built a boat. Clearwater is a 106-foot wooden sailing sloop designed after the famous Hudson River sloops of 19th century. In 1830, Laughlin McKay, brother of Donald McKay of New England clipper ship fame, proposed the lines for a Hudson sloop showing finer lines than her predecessors. In 1836, the Robert Wiltsie was built at Nyack by William Dickey. She had a 63’ 9” length, 23’ 5” beam, and with a 5’ 9” depth of hold, she modernized the Hudson River sloop hull lines to an extent that has not been improved on since. Launched in 1969, Clearwater is the only authentic sloop actively sailing on the Hudson River, and it serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum about the Hudson River. Each year, Clearwater accommodates nearly 13,000 children and adults for education sails that teach history, biology, and environmental science and navigation along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Pete Seeger about Building the Clearwater |
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Books about Hudson River SloopsFew books have been written about the Hudson River sloops. The most recent, "Sloops of the Hudson River," by Paul E. Fontenoy, is a technical and historical review of the design of the Hudson River sloop. This book is available from the Mystic Seaport Museum bookstore.The other two books are no longer in print, and have been reproduced in their entirety on this web site. "The Sloops on the Hudson River," by Verplanck and Collyer was written in 1908 at the close of the sloop era on the Hudson. It was their purpose to document their personal reminiscences about the Hudson River sloops and captains. This book contains many interesting descriptions of sloop sinkings and disasters on the river. It also contains the usual complaints that things are not built like they used to be and the winters aren't as severe as they used to be. "Hudson River Sloops" was published in support of the effort to build the sloop Clearwater, and contains some interesting details about Clearwater's design. | |
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The Sloops of the Hudson River A Historical and Design Survey By Paul E. Fontenoy Mystic Seaport Museum, 1994 For more than 200 years, sloop-rigged sailing craft carried the bulk of the commerce on the Hudson River, helping to make New York America's premier seaport. Historian and model-maker Fontenoy looks at the origins of Hudson River sloops among seventeenth-century Dutch vessels, then traces the changes through the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that resulted in the classic Hudson River sloop of the 1830s-1850s. |
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The Sloops of the Hudson River By William E. Verplanck and Moses W. Collyer G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York & London, 1908 (Full text version available) Written at the time of the three hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson and the centenary celebration of Fulton’s success in steam navigation, this book documents the 200 year history of sloops and schooners on the Hudson River. Describes the role of the Hudson River sloop, the old time sloop captains, and some of the infamous sloop and steamboat disasters on the river. This is the Book that inspired Pete Seeger to build the Sloop Clearwater |
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Hudson River Sloops Hudson River Sloop Restoration, Inc., 1970 (Full text version available) Written to support the building of the Clearwater, a replica Hudson River sloop. This pamphlet, which is completely reproduced here, contains a brief sloop history, a Hudson River travel journal, and technical details about the design and building of the sloop Clearwater |
Sloop ReminiscencesStories and journals describing sloop travel and voyages.Fireflies in the Rigging | |
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