Longboat

Though the Royal Navy replaced longboats with launches from 1780, examples can be found in merchant ships after that date.

In 1697 some British ships chasing a French squadron cut adrift the longboats they were towing in an attempt to increase their speed and engage with the enemy.

These would be laid in the bilges between the thwarts, filling most of the bottom of the boat and making a load of several tonnes.

A boat would be used to carry either a stream anchor or a kedge into position so that the ship may be pulled out of harbour or away from a hazard.

[2]: 35–40, 43 [1] Other heavy weights carried by a longboat included guns - either as armament for the boat or simply to transport to or from the ship.

The usual sailing rig was single masted, with a gaff mainsail and two headsails - the jib was set on a bowsprit and the staysail to the stemhead.

The advantages of a launch were ease of use in carrying water and stores and a greater number of passengers being accommodated.

[2]: 40–43 A contemporary model of a longboat showing sailing rig and the windlass mounted amidships.

Lines for a 31 ft longboat drawn in 1801. The windlass for working an anchor can be seen drawn in red, abaft the mast.
The longboat from Vasa . Whilst differing from many longboat designs (this example is double ended, when other longboats had a transom stern) the picture shows the windlass amidships for raising an anchor.