Montagu whaler

The Naval whaler was derived from the commercial whaleboat which were successful sea boats that were launcher from the whaleships in pursuit of whales. These were clinker built craft that were propelled by oars or two sails, a foresail and a mainsail.

The first reference to ‘whaleboats’, was in 1756. They were introduced into Royal Naval service around 1810, when they were called ‘whale-gigs’. They were used to take boarding parties to enemy ships. So that they were unsinkable, they were fitted with buoyancy tanks, They had a secondary role as lifeboats.

During the mid 19th century they were used on in vessels suppressing the slave trade off Africa, in the surf conditions that prevailed in this work. By 1862 they were officially called 'whalers'. [5]

At the turn of the 20th century, retired The Hon. Rear Admiral Victor Alexander Montagu(1841–1915) proposed a few changes to the standard whaler. It was to come in two lengths, 27 ft and 25 ft, and the beam was widened making it more stable. A drop keel was added, which altered the balance so the rig was changed, to mainsail and mizzen. This became known as the Montagu whaler. In this configuration, it continued in service until the 1970s in New Zealand [5]

After 1956 the Montagu was gradually replaced with the 27 foot Motor Whaler, a three-in-one whaler[6] with inboard petrol engine: this could also be pulled or sailed. They were heavy and handled poorly, and were superseded by the Motor Whaler Mod 1. which abandoned the sailing rig.[6] They continued until the 1990s.

Montagu whaler, Chatham

The Montagu whaler is a 27 feet (8.2 m) clinker built boat with a generous 6 feet (1.8 m) beam, fitted with a drop keel. In England they were built from wych elm or sand elm. In Malta they used mahogany.[8]

Length: 27 feet (8.2 m)

Beam: 6 feet (1.8 m)

Draught: 1 foot 5 inches (0.43 m)

Weight: (Normal load) 20.5cwt (1020 kg)

Life Saving Capacity: 27

Victor Alexander Montagu's father was the second son of the seventh Earl of Sandwich. His mother, a daughter of the Marquis of Anglesea, who commanded cavalry at Waterloo. His ancestor, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, served as First Lord of the Admiralty and sponsored the voyages of Captain James Cook.

Victor Alexander entered naval college in September 1853 at the age of twelve. In December 1853 he joined HMS Princess Royal, a 91-gun screw-propelled second-rate, as a midshipman junior officer, where he became A.D.C. to his uncle. He was given his first command, his uncle's 12-oared cutter.[6]

He saw active service during the Crimean War, 1854–1856, the 2nd China War where he survived the shipwreck of frigate HMS Raleigh (1845) , and the Indian Mutiny in 1857, Winning five service medals he retired as a Rear Admiral in 1886.[6]

Their prime function was to maintain communication with the shore when a vessel was anchored off. The desire to hook up to the shore electricity has caused warships go alongside a jetty, wharf, or quay. The whaler was used to help set or weigh anchor, and fetch water. In addition it was used for training and numerous competitive activities.[1]

This would have a six-man crew:

• Coxswain – Pilots boat and issues command from afore the Mizzen mast.
• Stroke (rearmost)
• Bowman- the lookout (referred to as ‘Bow’)
• No. 2 – stationed near mast
• No. 3 – stationed midships
• No. 4 – stationed before stroke

Preparing the whaler to sail was a co-operative process involving all members of the crew, at the command UP MAST, RIG THE BOAT, the mast had to be set and secured, the centreboard lowered. The sails have to be raised and trimmed.[4]

Pulling races

A whaler pulling race in India in 2016

When whalers were replaced by rigid inflatables, some were passed down to auxiliary reserves and sea cadet units as training vessels. Others were abandoned and some rescued by enthusiasts, two were seen for many years decaying at Sunderland Point, Lancaster. The Swan took part in the 2019 Great River Race in London, completing the course in 3 hr 15 min 10 sec.[9]

The Swan was a typical Montagu, she was badly burnt then was acquired by Bernie Bruing in the 1960s and towed to Cornwall Beach where she was restored and used for family boat trips. It was sold to Brown of Falmouth and consequently donated to a ferry company but left to rot. Falmouth boat builders recovered her and repaired her so she could be used again, but had no further use for her. Bernie Bruing wrote the folk song ‘The Lament to the Passing of the Montagu Whaler’ [10]

Steve Evans, of the Bristol Charity All Aboard Watersports, came across her while doing internet research, and obtained her for a few pounds and brought her to Bristol to be fully restored at Underfall's yard then to join the All Aboard Watersports fleet.[10]

Apron

A piece of wood fitted on the inside of the stem, to which the end of the planks are screwed

Backboard

A piece of wood across the after end of the stern benches

Benches

The seats around the stern sheets

Bottom Boards

Pieces of wood joined together, laid on the bottom of the boat as flooring

Bow

foremost end of the boat

Cleats

pieces of wood or metal secured to the sides of the boat for securing sheets and halliards

Deadwood

A piece of wood attached to the keel to strengthen the joint between the keel and the stem and stern

Garboard Stake

The first plank laid on the bottom of the boat

Keel

The backbone into which the boat is built

Knees

Pieces of wood grown to the shape required and used to secure the thwarts to the sides of the boat

Hog

A length of wood fitted to the upper part of the keel and extending the length of the keel to the deadwoods, to which the garboard strakes and timbers are secured

Pulling

Royal Navy boats were pulled not rowed.[1]

Risings

Lengths of wood extending fore and aft over the timbers which support the end of the thwarts

Seaboats

Launches, pinnace, cutters, galleys, jollyboats, gigs, whalers and dinghys -boats carried on davits or the deck of a ship [1]

Stretchers

Pieces of wood laid across the boat against which rowers place their feet

Thwarts

Lateral braces sometimes used as seats across the boat [11]

Timbers

Curved pieces of wood which extend outward and upward from the keel and are virtually the ribs of the boat

Yoke

A crosshead of wood or metal fitted over the rudder head, to which lines are attached, leading to a tiller for sailing

• Canadian Montagu Whaler manual

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