Sail Powered Vessels

Hudson River Maritime Museum

Three masted schooner under sail on Hudson River - Image Source

Collection Facts

Extent:

Historical Context

Sloops are sail powered vessels with a single mast supporting a single headsail and a fore-and-aft mainsail. The name originated from the Dutch "sloep" and were common on the Hudson River beginning in the 1600s.

Schooners are sail powered vessels with two or more masts. The name schooner first appeared in the early 1700s. The smaller sails of the schooners required a smaller crew to raise them. Schooners generally moved more quickly than sloops.