chippie
New member
Can anybody please tell me what classes a boat as a smack ? Does the term only relate to fishing vessels?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Smack
- Thread starter chippie
- Start date
Mirelle
N/A
I'll attempt an answer.
A smack is a sailing fishing boat, fully decked, gaff rigged, either as a cutter or as a ketch.
I hope someone can improve on that!
A smack is a sailing fishing boat, fully decked, gaff rigged, either as a cutter or as a ketch.
I hope someone can improve on that!
Plum
Well-known member
Yes, that is about the best answer that will cover most cases. However, there always seems to exceptions to the rule when trying to match traditional boat types to the names given to them as you move around the country. I recall reading in John Leather's book on gaff rig that there are records of early smacks being only decked ahead of the mast.
Mirelle
N/A
Alas, I have just recalled that, in some cases, cutter rigged trading vessels were called smacks, not just fishing boats!
I am now guessing, and my guess is that the word has gradually changed its meaning over time, so a precise definition will be almost impossible.
I am now guessing, and my guess is that the word has gradually changed its meaning over time, so a precise definition will be almost impossible.
G
Guest
Guest
This smacks of the pedantic, why does it matter?
Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster
Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster
Skipjack
New member
Pedantic, Roly? True, but vested interests lie here. Getting onto The List of eligible craft that can race as smacks is the big thing, and the definition is, therefore, important. People were turning up with green sails and gaff rigged traditonal fishing vessels from Morecombe Bay, and carting off silverware without so much as a hows-yer-father. Smack yachts need not apply either, so I'm told, even though a goodly number were made by smack builders during the golden age.
There is a trophy awarded annually by the cognoscenti called The Smack In The Mouth. This hints at how hot blood runs, although it has been adapted to The Mouth In The Smack award some years when boarding parties were kept apart. Not a community I'd accuse of pedantry.
There is a trophy awarded annually by the cognoscenti called The Smack In The Mouth. This hints at how hot blood runs, although it has been adapted to The Mouth In The Smack award some years when boarding parties were kept apart. Not a community I'd accuse of pedantry.
Mirelle
N/A
The matter of the green sails was referred to the Style Committee, as I recall!
G
Guest
Guest
No offence intended and you give an exellent justification.
I well remember the cry of a skipper aboard a 40ft prawner who, in reply to a shout of 'starboad' from a small plastic cruiser, bellowed back "14ton narwale" at which point the othe boat tacked clear. Not the people to cross as you say. (not abreach of regs, we wher constrained in a channel and had right of way)
Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster
I well remember the cry of a skipper aboard a 40ft prawner who, in reply to a shout of 'starboad' from a small plastic cruiser, bellowed back "14ton narwale" at which point the othe boat tacked clear. Not the people to cross as you say. (not abreach of regs, we wher constrained in a channel and had right of way)
Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Smack on the .........
As a fishing boat the description smack refers I believe to vessels originating between Ramsgate and the north of the Wash. Could it mean a fishing vessel of whatever propulsion capable of taking the bottom smartly! Hence getting smacked on the bottom?
-{)>
As a fishing boat the description smack refers I believe to vessels originating between Ramsgate and the north of the Wash. Could it mean a fishing vessel of whatever propulsion capable of taking the bottom smartly! Hence getting smacked on the bottom?
-{)>
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Accused of pedantry???
Is that something to do with assaulting small buoys?
Is that something to do with assaulting small buoys?
Stemar
Well-known member
Re: Is that something to do with assaulting small buoys?
If so we had an autopilot that qualified. On its first trip across the channel, it went for every buoy between Gosport and Nab Tower, and not content with that, even found one 20 miles off Cherbourg, in 60m of water!
If so we had an autopilot that qualified. On its first trip across the channel, it went for every buoy between Gosport and Nab Tower, and not content with that, even found one 20 miles off Cherbourg, in 60m of water!
