Sloops of the Hudson River
Hudson River sloops are a kind of sailing cargo vessel specifically designed for sailing on the Hudson River. Derived from Dutch and British sloops, the single-masted Hudson River sloop dominated the Hudson River transportation business for decades, including after the arrival of steamboats.
With the tide and a good wind, sloops could make the run from Albany to New York City much faster than steamships, but the reliability of steam eventually made them more popular. Sloops remained the main mode of transport for heavy cargoes like bluestone, cement, ice, etc. for several years after the development of steam because sail freight was far less expensive for heavy goods than steam.
The public domain "Sloops of the Hudson" by William Verplanck, below, remains one of the best books on the subject.
With the tide and a good wind, sloops could make the run from Albany to New York City much faster than steamships, but the reliability of steam eventually made them more popular. Sloops remained the main mode of transport for heavy cargoes like bluestone, cement, ice, etc. for several years after the development of steam because sail freight was far less expensive for heavy goods than steam.
The public domain "Sloops of the Hudson" by William Verplanck, below, remains one of the best books on the subject.