The coble is a type of open fishing boat used mostly on the North East coast of England. The southern examples occur up around Hull; the type extends to Burnmouth, across the Scottish border. Coble has a distinctive shape — flat-bottomed and high-bowed. It is built like taht to cope with the particular conditions in this area. Flat bottoms allowed launching from and landing upon shallow, sandy beaches, which is an advantage in this part of the coast where the wide bays and inlets provided … [Read more...]
Center Console Boat Definition
Center console is a type of single-decked open hull boat where the console of the boat is in the center of the boat. There is a cabin on some models, these cabins are usually located in the bow and hold small berths for sleeping. The boat deck surrounds the console so that a person can walk all around the boat from stern to bow with ease. They seem to be destined to speed fishing. [source] The console of a boat is where all the controls are located, including steering, ignition, trim … [Read more...]
Car Float – Definition
A railroad car float or rail barge is an unpowered barge with rail tracks mounted on its deck. It is used to move railroad cars across water obstacles, or to locations they could not otherwise go, and is towed by a tugboat or pushed by a towboat. As such, the car float is a specialized form of the lighter, as opposed to a train ferry, which is self-powered. [source] The only remaining car float service currently in operation in the Port of New York and New Jersey is operated by New … [Read more...]
Canoe – Definition and History
A canoe is a lightweight narrow boat, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel using a single-bladed paddle. In the UK, however, the term canoe is also commonly used for kayaks despite being technically incorrect. [source] Canoes are used for racing, whitewater canoeing, touring and camping, freestyle, and general recreation. The intended use of the canoe dictates its hull shape and construction … [Read more...]
Cable Ferry
A cable ferry is a ferry that is guided or propelled across a river or a large body of water by cables connected to both shores. This is the definition I found on Wikipedia and I don't see how to put it differently. The cable ferry is also called chain ferry, swing ferry, floating bridge or punt. They used rope or chains (hence the name of "chain ferry"), but before the nineteenth century ended, the ropes or chains have been replaced with stronger wire cables. [source: … [Read more...]