Vessel Alterations

[Seagull Shipwright]

I am just about to start a new wooden scratch model (follow Seagull SOS build log) and awaiting copies of the original proposals (1829), sketches and plans circa. 1831. The vessel was originally launched as a 3 masted Schooner but comparatively early, 1832-1834 it was altered to a 2 masted Brigantine. Would anyone know or care to speculate why such a fundamental modification would have been made?

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Easy and care of fewer sails and less rigging, maybe change in scope of mission didn't require the speed of a 3 mast ship, and needed more cargo room provided by less weight of the third mast and sails.

Also in history of many ships, when the Captain changed, so did the ships configuration of sails.

 

[Uwek]

Often 3 masts are not faster than 2 masts.
In general the brigantine was swifter and more easily maneuvered than a sloop or schooner, hence was employed for piracy, espionage, and reconnoitering, and as an outlying attendant upon large ships for protecting a ship, or for supply or landing purposes in a fleet.
So it seems, that they realized, that the 3 masted schooner is not fullfilling the expected duties and the changed the masting and rigging.
This was not unusual and happened relatively often.

 

[Seagull Shipwright]

Often 3 masts are not faster than 2 masts.
In general the brigantine was swifter and more easily maneuvered than a sloop or schooner, hence was employed for piracy, espionage, and reconnoitering, and as an outlying attendant upon large ships for protecting a ship, or for supply or landing purposes in a fleet.
So it seems, that they realized, that the 3 masted schooner is not fullfilling the expected duties and the changed the masting and rigging.
This was not unusual and happened relatively often.

Often 3 masts are not faster than 2 masts.
In general the brigantine was swifter and more easily maneuvered than a sloop or schooner, hence was employed for piracy, espionage, and reconnoitering, and as an outlying attendant upon large ships for protecting a ship, or for supply or landing purposes in a fleet.
So it seems, that they realized, that the 3 masted schooner is not fullfilling the expected duties and the changed the masting and rigging.
This was not unusual and happened relatively often.

Uwek thanks for the reply, your explanation fits in with the facts that Packet ships were built for speed hence in the early days they were lightly armed and usually outran privateers etc. in the case of Seagull she went on to do her record breaking run in the new configuration. I did not realise that a change of mast/rigging was relatively common. Now need to decide what to model. Thanks again and for title edit.