Age of Sail

Early Ships

Rafts: anything that floated was lashed together to form a primitive boat

Log Boats & Reed Boats:

Dug-out Canoes: canoes made from hollowed out tree trunks

Coracles & Kayaks: made by putting a waterproof skin over a wooden frame

Before the Age of SailIn Europe, for a long time, boats were small, had one mast and seldom left sight of land. Ships like the Mediterranean galleys and the nordic drakkar relied mainly on oars for propulsion aided by square sails when there was a following wind. They would be steered with a "side oar" that would hang off the back of the boat.

Renaissance

In the 1300s, larger loads for war and commerce were handled by Cogs . In the north, the rudder had replaced the side oar for steering. In the Mediterranean, lateen sails working as windfoils allowed sailing upwind. Building techniques improved to allow the construction of larger crafts with multiple masts.

Renaissance

Age of Exploration

2.Larger ships for war and commerce: carracks

• high platforms at front and back from which to fire at opponents

• armed with cannons

• square sails for more sail area

• large payload

Two types of ships were developed:

1. Small ships for exploration: caravels

• a shallow draft to chart unknown waters

• ability to sail to windward (lateen sails)

• small crew

• cargo space for voyages of up to a year

Caravels (1400-1600)

The ships weighed from 50 to 200 tons and were cheap to rig, cheap to man, and carried much cargo. The caravel was favored for its speed and maneuverability especially along the inlets and streams in Africa and the newly discovered Americas.

Carracks (1200-1600)

There was a fore and aft castle on the carrack. The forecastle was always higher that the aft castle. The carrack, with its sail configuration, was cheaper to crew as a merchant vessel. These became the favorite ships of the ocean-going explorers. They were more stable on the open ocean and could carry enough men and food to be a ship of exploration.

Age of Exploration

Caravel Carrack

Galleons

Galleons (1500-1700)Galleons were generally smaller than the Portuguese carrack, which weighed an average of 500 tons. Galleons were often cheaper to build than the more traditional caravel or carrack. Many European countries used galleons as merchant or supply ships in peace, and could quickly convert them to war ships in times of trouble. The Spanish used the vast amount of cargo space in the galleon to carry the New World treasure across the Atlantic. The galleon could withstand the rigors of ocean voyages.

Tools of NavigationAstrolabe

Lead Line

Hour Glass

Chronometer

Star & Lunar Charts

Log Book

Compass

Chip Log

Quadrant

Back Staff

Traverse Board

http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/index.php?page=tools