The work is a survey of maritime curiosities and ingenious experiments in ship design spanning several centuries. It opens with an account of a seventeenth‐century Dutch merchant who commissioned a vessel modeled on the biblical ark. Though the design was based on a fanciful interpretation of ancient proportions, it soon proved practical, offering greater cargo capacity than conventionally proportioned ships. The narrative links this early innovation with later literary and historical commentary, drawing on figures such as Sir Thomas Browne and Sir Walter Raleigh, who attributed remarkable speed and capacity to such unconventional constructions. The text then broadens its scope to include a variety of strange and novel craft. It details miniature vessels—exquisitely crafted models that evoked both technical acumen and imaginative artistry—and contrasts them with other tiny ships built as experimental or decorative curiosities. Among these are full-rigged toys, glass ships complete with miniature crew and rigging, and models that have captured the fancy of both royal patrons and literary figures. The discussion extends to unusual experiments in boat construction using diverse materials. Accounts are provided of boats made from leather, iron, copper, and specially treated canvas. One narrative describes an iron pleasure-boat light enough to be carried by two men, while another recounts an entire copper vessel launched as an experiment for potential naval advantages. Equally remarkable is the description of a canvas boat, designed to be impervious to both air and water, which underwent trials that promised new possibilities in military logistics. In addition to these material experiments, the work covers inventive propulsion methods. It recounts early paddle-wheel boats—with multiple sets of paddles arranged along beams and even a vessel driven by water forced through a pump mechanism—that challenged traditional reliance on wind power. There is also mention of a medieval attempt to use a large bellows to supplement sailing power, an idea that underscored the persistent search for alternative means of marine propulsion. Throughout the work a tension is evident between the romantic ideals of shipbuilding and the pragmatic demands of modern naval architecture. Older ships, despite their unconventional forms and seemingly mismatched proportions, carried an aura of grace and imaginative flair. This is contrasted with later vessels, particularly those constructed of metal, which, while economically efficient and technically advanced, are depicted as lacking the enchanting beauty and romantic associations of their wooden predecessors. Ultimately, the work functions as both a historical record and a literary meditation on the evolution of maritime design. By collating disparate tales—from the construction of scaled-down arks and elaborate model ships to experimental iron and copper vessels—it provides a panoramic view of human ingenuity at sea. The narrative underscores that what might initially appear as eccentric or impractical can often reveal unforeseen advantages or inspire a broader appreciation of the art and science of shipbuilding.
By W. Clark Russell · First published 1882 · Genre: Maritime History, Nautical Literature, Historical Nonfiction