In the age of sail, the boats carried by the men-of-war were an essential part of the ship's outfitting. They were necessary to move stores, act as the "engine" in confined waters, serve as amphibious raiders, and even to cruise independently as tenders to the mother ship. Over the centuries there have been many sizes, hull forms, and rigs employed, so the exact details proved a problem for model makers, marine artists, and builders of replicas.
In 1974 the original edition of this book was published by the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, England. Still the only complete study of this neglected topic, the book has now been revised and expanded to include more illustrations. It covers the sizes and types of boats formally allocated, the methods of hoisting and stowing them aboard ship, and the design and construction of the boats themselves, as well as their fittings, rigs, and armament, including guns, howitzers, and Congreve rockets. Although primarily devoted to the age of sail, the book also covers the steamboats of the late nineteenth century.
Ship modelers, historians of the sailing navy, and small-craft enthusiasts will welcome this new edition.
