Pirates & Privateers: Karl Heinz Marquardt's Books

The schooner is most often found in the coastal waters of America, and becomes a favorite vessel of privateers because she can sail close to the wind and requires fewer crewmen to handle her. Merchant sailors and private yachtsmen also favor this vessel. Rather than being a particular type of ship, the name actually refers to its rigging. The Global Schooner examines the development and changes to this boat over a period of 150 years with closer examination of five particular schooners: two merchantmen, a privateer, a coast guard, and a gunboat.

Based on twenty years of research, the author discusses the schooner’s origins, construction and fitting, masts and rigging, anchors, boats, and other furniture. He also looks at the various roles schooners assume, for they become pleasure yachts, naval vessels, privateers, merchantmen, and slavers. Illustrations and diagrams abound. The book includes several appendices detailing design specifications, a bibliography, and an index.

Many books about schooners concentrate on the rigging and construction, but ignore other details, especially those pertinent to researchers and writers. This study from Mr. Marquardt -- a maritime author, ship modeler, marine artist, and one of the designers and builders of the replica of Enterprize, the schooner that first brings settlers to Melbourne, Australia -- examines the schooner in its entirety while including tidbits rarely found elsewhere. A valuable reference source for any maritime library. Excellent!