Captain John Smith's Shallop

Captain John Smith's Shallop. and America's First National Water Trail. This modest open boat is a replica of one of the most important vessels in American History. In the summer of 1608, a small boat or "Shallop" similar to this was used by Captain John Smith to make the first detailed European exploration of the Chesapeake Bay. In the decades that followed, the knowledge gained from Smith's voyages played a key role in opening the interior of America to tens of thousands of European settlers. , In the summer of 2007, a crew of 12 modern explorers set out in this replica of Smith's Shallop to retrace the 1608 voyages. Traveling 121 days and 1,700 miles under oar and sail power, the crew revisited all of the waters traveled by Smith. The voyage served as the official inauguration of Captain John Smith's epic voyages and their import in American history. Today, the shallop serves as a roving ambassador for the Trail. , Imagine a world of ancient forests, widespread native communities and waterways teeming with life. Such was the Chesapeake that Captain John Smith and his fellow travelers encountered during their epic journeys on this "goody bay" in the early 1600's. Modern explorers can follow in Smith's wake along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, administered by the National Park Service. , , Vital Statistics , Length overall: 28 feet, 7 inches , Beam: 7 feet,8 inches , Framing: Osage Orange , Fastenings: Wooden and Iron Nails , Oars: 6 "Single Banked" Oars , Sails: 2 Sailed "Sprit Rig" , Builders: , John E. Swain, Master Shipwright , Nicholas Biles, Shipwright , The Volunteers of the Sultana Shipyard , Research/Design , Sultana Projects Inc. , Kees de Mooy , Eric Speth , John E. Swain , William A. Baker ,