DSK wrote:

Jeff Morris wrote:

Sorry, Bart. I think your Dutch friend was yanking your chain!

No, what Bart described would work.



But here's a question: I've heard the term "knockabout" as a type of small boat
but never saw a formal definition. This morning I was reading a 1943 edition of
Chapman's - how do you think Charles defined them back then?

IIRC a "knockabout" was a boat with no bowsprit, a bit earlier than 1943 though. For
example a number of fishing schooners, without bowsprits, were described as
"knockabouts." But that was 1920s and earlier, by 1943 then it probably meant
something else. There were some early (1930s) marconi rigged one-designs (again, no
bowsprit, but by this time that was the norm rather than the exception) called
knockabouts.


Chappelle isn't too clear on that IIRC. But here's a direct
reference: Bill DUnne, "The McManuses of Boston" Woodenboat 112
June 1993.

"...The term came from the small racing sailboats built for
yachtsmen during the 1890s for "knocking about" Massachussets
Bay in all kinds of weather". The term was appropriated by Tom
McManus for his first knockabout Banks schooner Helen B. Thomas,
in which the bow was extended to where the bowsprit would have
reached, thus doing away with the widowmaker while still
maintaining the balance of the rig. About 1901.

--
Flying Tadpole

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