Flyboat
Encyclopedia
The flyboat was a European light vessel (developed primarily as a mercantile cargo carrier, although many served as warship
s in an auxiliary role) of between 70 to 200 tons, used in the late 16th and early 17th century; the name was subsequently applied to a number of disparate vessels.
The name "flyboat" is derived from Dutch vlieboot, a boat with a shallow enough draught to be able to navigate a shallow vlie or river estuary
, such as the Vlie
. Armed flyboats were used by the naval forces of the Dutch rebels, the Watergeuzen, in the beginning of the Eighty Years' War. The type resembled a small carrack
and had two or at most three masts, a high board and a dozen iron cannon. Small, inexpensive and manoeuvrable, it was ideal for privateering activities in the European coastal waters and soon imitated by privateers or pirates of other nations. The Dutch navy, and their enemies, the Dunkirkers
, at first extensively employed flyboats. In 1588 the army of Alexander Farnese was blocked in Dunkirk by a fleet of thirty Dutch flyboats commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Justin of Nassau, preventing him from joining the Spanish Armada
to invade England
.
In the early 17th century the warship type became obsolete by the invention by the Dunkirkers of the frigate
, then a small galleon
type, although flyboats continued to be adapted in wartime for naval use until the 1670s. However civilian Dutch vlieboten continued to be built and evolved during the 18th century into much larger cromster
s (kromstevens), then flat coastal cargo ships of up to 1200 tons. At the same time the term flyboat was used for a swift fishing vessel on the Atlantic. In the 19th century the term was used in England for canal boats, resembling small Dutch cromsters.
which works all day and all night (24/7) on the English
canal
system without mooring.
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s in an auxiliary role) of between 70 to 200 tons, used in the late 16th and early 17th century; the name was subsequently applied to a number of disparate vessels.
The name "flyboat" is derived from Dutch vlieboot, a boat with a shallow enough draught to be able to navigate a shallow vlie or river estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, such as the Vlie
Vlie
The Vlie or Vliestroom is the seaway between the Dutch islands of Vlieland, to its southwest, and Terschelling, to its northeast. The Vlie was the estuary of the river IJssel in medieval times...
. Armed flyboats were used by the naval forces of the Dutch rebels, the Watergeuzen, in the beginning of the Eighty Years' War. The type resembled a small carrack
Carrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
and had two or at most three masts, a high board and a dozen iron cannon. Small, inexpensive and manoeuvrable, it was ideal for privateering activities in the European coastal waters and soon imitated by privateers or pirates of other nations. The Dutch navy, and their enemies, the Dunkirkers
Dunkirkers
During the Dutch Revolt the Dunkirkers or Dunkirk Privateers, were commerce raiders in the service of the Spanish Monarchy. They were also part of the Dunkirk fleet, which consequently was a part of the Spanish Monarchy's Flemish fleet ...
, at first extensively employed flyboats. In 1588 the army of Alexander Farnese was blocked in Dunkirk by a fleet of thirty Dutch flyboats commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Justin of Nassau, preventing him from joining the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
to invade England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In the early 17th century the warship type became obsolete by the invention by the Dunkirkers of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, then a small galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
type, although flyboats continued to be adapted in wartime for naval use until the 1670s. However civilian Dutch vlieboten continued to be built and evolved during the 18th century into much larger cromster
Cromster
The Crommesteven or cromsteven, often as crompster, cromster or crumster was a type of small warship used by the Dutch Republic and later by the British fleets during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries...
s (kromstevens), then flat coastal cargo ships of up to 1200 tons. At the same time the term flyboat was used for a swift fishing vessel on the Atlantic. In the 19th century the term was used in England for canal boats, resembling small Dutch cromsters.
Canal carrying company flyboat
A flyboat is also a narrowboatNarrowboat
A narrowboat or narrow boat is a boat of a distinctive design, made to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain.In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals...
which works all day and all night (24/7) on the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
system without mooring.