Radeau (Ship)
Encyclopedia
A Radeau was a simply constructed vessel used for many purposes, most notably as a naval battle platform. The term 'Radeau' is derived from the French, meaning raft. Because of the versatility and wide variation of the craft, as well as the ambiguity of the term, there are many vessels that could fall under the category of radeau. However, of the ships that are 'known' radeaus, there are few survivors. It is believed that the only intact radeau rests at the bottom of Lake George
, called the Land Tortoise
. From this remaining ship, it is known that the vessel would have been about 50 feet in length, and was designed to be 7 sided to deflect enemy fire. Radeau type ships were known to be common in small provincial fleets, like that at Lake George
because of their simple and improvisational structure. Their traditionally smaller cousin, the Bateau
follows a very similar usage in American history, serving in the provincial fleets and fur trade.
Lake George (New York)
Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is a long, narrow oligotrophic lake draining northwards into Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River Drainage basin located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, U.S.A.. It lies within the upper region of the...
, called the Land Tortoise
Land Tortoise (shipwreck)
Radeau Land Tortoise is the Lake George site of a shipwreck from the French and Indian Wars era. The vessel is a radeau. Simple in construction, it was built by the British and Colonial forces in 1758 to help combat the French in North America...
. From this remaining ship, it is known that the vessel would have been about 50 feet in length, and was designed to be 7 sided to deflect enemy fire. Radeau type ships were known to be common in small provincial fleets, like that at Lake George
Lake George (New York)
Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is a long, narrow oligotrophic lake draining northwards into Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River Drainage basin located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, U.S.A.. It lies within the upper region of the...
because of their simple and improvisational structure. Their traditionally smaller cousin, the Bateau
Bateau
A bateau or batteau is a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed boat which was used extensively across North America, especially in the colonial period and in the fur trade. It was traditionally pointed at both ends but came in a wide variety of sizes...
follows a very similar usage in American history, serving in the provincial fleets and fur trade.
External links
- The Lost Radeau Documentary Project part of the website for "The Lost Radeau: North America's Oldest Intact Warship" (Film 2005)
- All Over Albany Archive: The Lost Radeau: a shipwreck in Lake George
- The National Historic Landmarks Program
- Weekly World News 18 DEC 1990
- In Search of Lake George's Colonial Warships (VHS 1991)