The Boats of Swallows and Amazons

Information on the boats in the books, and those used as models for them

Cochy Under Sail Sailing is one of the major activities in the twelve Swallows and Amazons books and the boats used also feature prominently, with many virtually "characters" in their own right. From the beginning, it is clear that "sail was the thing." whilst steamships - and indeed all motorised vessels - were "just engines in tin boxes" (Swallows and Amazons, Chapter 1).

There are over forty named vessels, including dinghies, yachts and larger craft, as well as numerous appearances by unnamed craft. This section of the site examines both the fictional boats, as well as investigating the historical vessels that in many cases inspired them. With very few exceptions, all the boats remain in particular geographical locations throughout the series. The links below have been arranged on this basis.

Links:

Go to Lake District Vessels

Go to Norfolk Broads Vessels

Go to East Coast Vessels

Go to Vessels of the Caribbean, China and the Hebrides

Go to Index of Fictional Vessels

Go to Literary References to Historic Vessels

Go to More Resources on the Boats of Swallows and Amazons

Lake District Vessels

The starring vessels of Ransome's "Lake in the North" are undoubtedly the sailing dinghies Swallow and Amazon, later joined in The Picts and the Martyrs by the Scarab. Yet it is Captain Flint's Houseboat that arguably plays the most significant role of all.

In the background the lake teems with a supporting cast of vessels, from "native war canoes" to steamers.

The links below provide more information on the Boats of Arthur Ransome's lake.

		Swallow
		Amazon
		Scarab
		Captain Flint's Houseboat
		Other Lake District Vessels

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Norfolk Broads Vessels

The Norfolk Broads is a unique wetland environment and it is no surprise that this uniqueness has led to the development of specialised craft. Some, such as wherries and reed lighters met the working needs of the local population. More recently, other types met leisure requirements for yachts, motor boats and racing dinghies.

Gaff-rigged vessels have tended to predominate; these permit large areas of sail in the clearer air above surrounding reed beds. Before the advent of engines, quants were essential equipment for all larger vessels: these poles, up to 24' in length for larger wherries, were used to shove vessels along in the absence of favourable winds.

In Coot Club and The Big Six, Ransome accurately describes many types of vessel found on the Broads in the 1930s, at a time of great change when powered vessels were overtaking sail.

The links below provide more information on the boats of Arthur Ransome's Norfolk Broads.

		Teasel
		Titmouse
		Death and Glory
		Dreadnought
		Flash
		Sir Garnet
		Margoletta & Cachalot
		Welcome
		Come Along
		Other Norfolk Broads Vessels

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East Coast Vessels

Once he had settled on the banks of the River Orwell and begun to sail his cutter Nancy Blackett, it was perhaps only a matter of time before Ransome saw the opportunity for new nautical adventures. We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea, and its sequel Secret Water, introduce a new range of vessels suited to the tidal waters of the North Sea.

Please use the links below to find out more about the boats of Arthur Ransome's East Coast novels.

		Goblin & Imp
		Wizard & Firefly
		Lapwing
		Speedy
		Other East Coast Vessels

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Vessels of the Caribbean, China and the Outer Hebrides

Peter Duck, Missee Lee and Great Northern? all involve voyages at sea in very different parts of the world. The first two books are fantasies, "fiction within fiction" purportedly created by the Swallows and Amazons themselves. Whether Great Northern? is a third fantasy in the same mould is more open to debate.

The vessels and voyages described in these three novels are on a different scale to those of the Lake, the Broads or even the North Sea. Here we are entering the world of tall ships and asventure on the high seas.

Click on the links below to find out more.

		Wild Cat
		Viper
		Shining Moon
		Sea Bear
		Pterodactyl
		Other vessels in Peter Duck
		Other vessels in Missee Lee
		Other vessels in Great Northern?

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Index of Fictional Vessels

The table below lists the boats and vessels named in the 12 Swallows and Amazons novels. Names in bold are fictional vessels created by Ransome. Names in normal text are historical vessels referred to by Ransome, or by his characters. Names in italics are fictional vessels created by other authors, and referred to in the Swallows and Amazons books.

Where applicable, click on the boat names to find out more.

Amazon	lugsail dinghy	Mary Cahoun	sailing ship
Arrow of Norwich	wherry	Mayflower	sailing ship
Cachalot	motor cruiser	Polly Ann	racing yacht
Come Along	motor tug	Pommern	tall ship
Coronilla	cutter	Prooshian	shipwreck
Cutty Sark	tall ship	Pterodactyl	motor cruiser
Death and Glory	old ship's boat	Revenge	galleon
Dreadnought	punt	Rosemary of Harwich	Thames barge
Emily	yawl	Scarab	lugsail dinghy
Firefly	lugsail dinghy	Sea Bear	ex-pilot cutter
Flash	racing keelboat	Shining Moon	Chinese junk
Flying Dutchman	ghost ship	Shooting Star	racing keelboat
Fram	exploration vessel	Sir Garnet	wherry
Goblin	cutter	Speedy	Thames barge
Grizzled Skipper	racing keelboat	Swallow	lugsail dinghy
Hispaniola	sailing ship	Teasel	Broads yacht
Houseboat	Captain Flint's	Thermopylae	tall ship
Imp	pram dinghy	The Watte	Pinnace
Iron Duke	battleship	Titmouse	lugsail dinghy
Lapwing	cutter	Viper	schooner
Louisiana Belle	sailing ship	Welcome	Thames barge
Margoletta	motor cruiser	Wild Cat	schooner
		Wizard	lugsail dinghy

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Literary References to Historic Vessels

The 12 Swallows and Amazons books contain numerous references to real vessels. In some cases these are actual ships encountered by Ransome's characters; in others they are referred to in conversation or used as inspiration to further their adventures.

Click on the link below to find out more about the real vessels that appeared in Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series.