If you are a boater and have a great love for all things nautical then you are sure to know a thing or two about the history of boating and different variations of the vessels from around the world. However, there may still be a lot that you didn’t know – so whether you are a novice boater or a professional angler constantly out on your boat, here are a few facts about the history of boating that will definitely interest you!
- All boats have a life expectancy, after which they are deemed unsafe and unstable to use for travel. Where most of the cargo ships can last 20 to 30 years, sailboats, which are made from plywood or fiberglass can last between 30 to 40 years. Freshwater boats survive longer than saltwater vessels because the latter causes more corrosion to the vessels.
- The oldest boat found by archeologists is the Pesse Canoe and is believed to be between 7,000 to 10,000 years old. It is a dugout canoe, which shows that it was made from a tree that was cut down and dug out from the center. It is currently placed in Netherland in the Drents Museum in Assen.
- Thousands of people out in the open waters depend on a compass to navigate their way. A compass is a small instrument that uses a magnetic needle to rotate freely in one place. When held horizontally, it points towards North-South. The compass was invented in China sometime between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD.
- Unlike measurements that are used to record distance and speed on land, at sea mariners use nautical miles and knots for measurements at sea. A nautical mile is equal to 1.1508 miles and the nautical knot, is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
- The knot measurement was derived from a system in the 17th century where a common log was used to measure the speed of a ship. The common log consisted of a wedge-shaped piece of wood with which was attached a rope with equally spaced knots. While sailing, the piece of wood was allowed to float for a specific amount of time. When it was pulled back, sailors would count the number of knots on the rope between the ship and the wood to measure the speed of the vessel.
- The fastest boat was a hydroplane named Spirit of Australia, which was built in 1978. The boat was 27 feet long and reached a speed of 317.58 mph. Its flat bottom allowed it to skim over the surface and reach an extremely fast speed.
If you love all things marine and are looking for boats in Palm Beach, contact us at South Florida Yachts and we will help you find your dream boat.
