Thread: Hello from Texas

The boat in the swamp looks to have been "built down", which is very unlike the plywood, flat bottomed, slab sided, skiff like thing shown over powered, poorly trimmed and up on plane. It's probable, just the structural floors, stem and stern timbers alone would easily out weigh the blue boat pictured above.

It possible there's enough of the "remains" around the swamp boat to identify her type, but this would require careful excavation.

Judging from the angle iron reinforcements at some of the frame/floor interfaces (probable repairs), it's general stout scantlings, it's likely a logging work boat of some type. These were used in and around logs, flowing down steam and their very nature of existence, require massive scantlings.

Many different types were employed in this trade. Some of these were little more then ship's boats, like jollies and gigs, but these didn't hold up long. Often carpenter built craft assembled on site were used. These didn't follow a general type or plan, just what was known to have a reasonably fair service life considering it's employment.

The swamp boat shown appears to have been purpose built and by some one familiar with the rigors of the life expected of it. This wouldn't be typical of the carpenter built styles, but rather a common type likely local to the area and from a boat builder, understanding the service it was intended to ply.

In the updated thread about this boat, she seems to be much longer then a typical pole boat used within a log flow. Built as massively as she is, even over 30', it's highly improbable that she was dragged across less then navigatable areas. This suggests a deeper water craft, possibly run up a creek or river to avoid a storm.

Michael, I thought you were (jokingly) referring to Clinton Crane's Vingt-et-un, a turn of the gas engine powered launch. It ran 26 knots in 1900 and if you ever get a change to ride in one of these old torpedo launches do so. It's an amazing experience, running through a chop like it wasn't there at speed, no pounding, just a rush of hissing water beside you.