Periauger facts for kids
A periauger (say "peh-ree-AW-ger") was a special type of boat. It was often flat on the bottom and didn't go deep in the water. This made it great for shallow rivers and bays. Most periaugers had two masts with sails, but they could also be rowed using oars.
These boats were very popular in the 1700s and early 1800s. People used them a lot on the rivers and waterways along the eastern coast of the United States.
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The Periauger's Role in History
Periaugers played an important part in early American travel and trade. A famous businessman named Cornelius Vanderbilt started his ferry service using these boats. He carried people and goods across New York Harbor, between Staten Island and Manhattan.
Busy Boats on the Hudson River
Periaugers were the top choice for boats on the Hudson River. They worked as ferries, taking people from one side to the other. They also moved goods like food and supplies between New York City and towns along the river.
These useful boats were common until the early 1800s. Then, steamboats came along. Steamboats were faster and more powerful, so periaugers slowly disappeared.
Different Designs of Periaugers
Not all periaugers looked exactly the same. In the mid-Atlantic states, like New York, they were often built using a method called "lapstrake." This means the wooden planks on the side of the boat overlapped each other. These boats often used "leeboards" instead of a keel. Leeboards are flat boards on the sides that help the boat steer and stay stable.
In the southern parts of the US, especially in places like Louisiana, similar boats were called "pirogues." These were often made by hollowing out a single tree trunk.
How Periaugers Were Built
We know a lot about how periaugers were made from an explorer named John Lawson. He traveled through what is now South Carolina in 1701. He wrote about his travels in a diary published in 1709.
Making Boats from Giant Trees
Lawson described how people made these boats from huge cypress trees. These trees were so big that a single tree could be hollowed out to make a canoe that could carry 50 or 60 barrels!
Sometimes, they would cut a hollowed-out tree in half lengthwise. Then, they would add a plank in the middle to make the boat wider. They might even add a small keel. This helped protect the boat from oyster beds, which were very common in the waterways.
Versatile and Strong Vessels
These large periaugers and canoes were perfect for traveling across rivers, creeks, and bays. They were also great for moving goods and timber from one river to another. Some boats made from a single tree could carry 30 barrels. Others, made wider with an added plank, could carry 80 or even 100 barrels!
Lawson even mentioned that some of these boats sailed out into the ocean to Virginia. They carried goods like pork and other products. The wood from these cypress trees was very strong and didn't rot easily. A canoe made from cypress could last longer than four regular boats and rarely needed fixing.
