Smack (ship)
Encyclopedia
A smack was a traditional fishing boat used off the coast of England and the Atlantic coast of America for most of the 19th century, and even in small numbers up to the Second World War. It was originally a cutter rigged sailing boat until about 1865, when the smacks became so large that cutter main booms became unhandy. From then on, cutters were lengthened and re-rigged and new ketch-rigged
smacks were built, but the boats varied from port to port. Some boats had a topsail
on the mizzen mast, while others had a bowsprit
carrying a jib
. Large numbers of these boats could be seen operating in fleets from places like Brixham
, Grimsby
and Lowestoft
. In England the sails were usually red ochre in colour, which made them a picturesque sight in large numbers. Smacks were often rebuilt into steam boats in the 1950s. Some of the old smacks have been re-rigged into ketches (or were never made into steam boats) and are now used as training boats for young sailors.
The Excelsior
is an example of a preserved smack. Built in Lowestoft in 1921, she is a member of the National Historic Fleet and operates as a sail training vessel.
Ketch
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
smacks were built, but the boats varied from port to port. Some boats had a topsail
Topsail
A topsail is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails.- Square rig :On a square rigged vessel, a topsail is a square sail rigged above the course sail and below the topgallant sail where carried...
on the mizzen mast, while others had a bowsprit
Bowsprit
The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a pole extending forward from the vessel's prow. It provides an anchor point for the forestay, allowing the fore-mast to be stepped farther forward on the hull.-Origin:...
carrying a jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
. Large numbers of these boats could be seen operating in fleets from places like Brixham
Brixham
Brixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of...
, Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
and Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
. In England the sails were usually red ochre in colour, which made them a picturesque sight in large numbers. Smacks were often rebuilt into steam boats in the 1950s. Some of the old smacks have been re-rigged into ketches (or were never made into steam boats) and are now used as training boats for young sailors.
The Excelsior
Excelsior (smack)
Excelsior is the last surviving fishing smack of the Lowestoft fishing fleet and a member of the National Historic Fleet. She was built by John Chambers of Lowestoft in 1921 and worked until 1936 before being converted into a motor cruiser. In 2011 Excelsior celebrated her 90th birthday...
is an example of a preserved smack. Built in Lowestoft in 1921, she is a member of the National Historic Fleet and operates as a sail training vessel.
See also
- Emma C. Berry (sloop)Emma C. Berry (sloop)Emma C. Berry is a fishing sloop located at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, United States, and one of the oldest surviving commercial vessels in America. It is the last known surviving American well smack. This type of boat is also termed a sloop smack or Noank smack. The Berry was built...
- Ernest Martin JehanErnest Martin JehanErnest Martin Jehan DSC was an officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War. Jehan is best known for the sinking of a German submarine by he and his crew aboard the smack Inverlyon...
- Luke & co (builders)Luke & coLuke & co was a boatbuilding firm, established in 1829 in Limehouse near London. They moved to Oakbank at Itchen Ferry in 1868 and in the late 1880s settled at Hamble...
External links
- Albert — a Boston fishing smack built 1910
- Victorious — a King's LynnKing's LynnKing's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
fishing smack built c. 1902 - Excelsior — a LowestoftLowestoftLowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
trawling smack built 1921 - Vigilance — the last BrixhamBrixhamBrixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of...
trawling smack built 1926 - The Sailing Smack Association