CATBOAT
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:20 pm
The “catboat designed and built in the Cayman Islands especially for turtling, carried oars for rowing and sails to ‘catch the wind’
These graceful boats, skimming along on a clear blue sea were a beautiful sight for onlookers especially during Saturday afternoon races in Cayman Brac. Whether out for an enjoyable sail, fishing, turtling, diving for conchs, setting fish pots, or bringing in provisions from the grounds in other districts, the catboat was a welcome addition to the community. They were also used during the Oxford University Biological Expedition in the islands in 1938.
The tradition of catboat races has recently been revived.
The book from Aak to Zumbra gives the following on the West Indies Caymans catboat:
Fast boat designed early in the 20th century for turtling off these islands northwest of Jamaica; extinct.
Carvel-built, with 7-8 strakes per side; 11-15 frames, fastened to the keel inserted after hull completed. Sharp ends; raked ends, the sternpost raking sharply, curved heels. Moderate rise to the floors, vertical sides. Open; 4 thwarts, the forward thwart reinforced to hold the mast. Steered with rudder and yoke and lines, but by oar when rowing.
Always painted bright blue. Mast raked slightly aft; no standing rigging, so easily unshipped.
Set a spirit-or leg-of mutton sail; occasional a small jib.
Two oars, worked through a loop fastened to a block on gunwale.
Crew of two.
Typical 4.9 meter long, 1.2 meter wide, circa 0.76 deep.
Cayman Islands 2001 30c sg?, scott? 1962 1d sg166, scott154.
2023 80c sg?, Scott?, Christmas issues Cayman Island, which shows a catboat
Source: The already mentioned book and a leaflet from the Cayman Isl. Post.
These graceful boats, skimming along on a clear blue sea were a beautiful sight for onlookers especially during Saturday afternoon races in Cayman Brac. Whether out for an enjoyable sail, fishing, turtling, diving for conchs, setting fish pots, or bringing in provisions from the grounds in other districts, the catboat was a welcome addition to the community. They were also used during the Oxford University Biological Expedition in the islands in 1938.
The tradition of catboat races has recently been revived.
The book from Aak to Zumbra gives the following on the West Indies Caymans catboat:
Fast boat designed early in the 20th century for turtling off these islands northwest of Jamaica; extinct.
Carvel-built, with 7-8 strakes per side; 11-15 frames, fastened to the keel inserted after hull completed. Sharp ends; raked ends, the sternpost raking sharply, curved heels. Moderate rise to the floors, vertical sides. Open; 4 thwarts, the forward thwart reinforced to hold the mast. Steered with rudder and yoke and lines, but by oar when rowing.
Always painted bright blue. Mast raked slightly aft; no standing rigging, so easily unshipped.
Set a spirit-or leg-of mutton sail; occasional a small jib.
Two oars, worked through a loop fastened to a block on gunwale.
Crew of two.
Typical 4.9 meter long, 1.2 meter wide, circa 0.76 deep.
Cayman Islands 2001 30c sg?, scott? 1962 1d sg166, scott154.
2023 80c sg?, Scott?, Christmas issues Cayman Island, which shows a catboat
Source: The already mentioned book and a leaflet from the Cayman Isl. Post.