Catboats

About this book

Take a voyage in time with author/historian Stan Grayson as he investigates the fascinating history of Americas most unique sailing craft the Cape Cod Catboat. Developed in the mid-19th century on Cape Cod and in New Jersey these boats were shallow-draft cetnerboards with a single huge sail and a mast stepped right in the bow. Simple in design able to work difficult shoal waters catboats became a staple of working fishermen right up to World War II. By 1890 the frindly catboat was exposing many people to their first sailing experience and also becoming popular with a generation of yachtsmen for exciting racing. Today wooden catboats are restored by devoted owners and thousands of sailors cruise and race in fiberglass models. The book tells the stories of the old-time catboat designers like Hanley Crosby and many others and goes on to share with readers chapters on those who who catboats today. This new edition features a collection of rare photographs from the HART Nautical Museum at MIT