Vessels
Discovery Harbour is home port to two replica historic ships and an impressive collection of smaller vessels that are replicas of those stationed at the Penetanguishene Naval Establishment in the early 1800's.
H.M.S. Bee
H.M.S. Bee is a full-scale replica of her namesake and has also received an historic warrant reinstating her as an honourary British Navy ship. At 79' H.M.S. Bee is representative of one of the original supply schooners (Bee, Mosquito, and Wasp) that were stationed at the Penetanguishene Naval Establishment from 1817 to 1831. The original Bee was built in Nottawasaga and ferried goods and men between this depot and Penetanguishene with occasional trips to the Northwest. The replica H.M.S. Bee employs modern and traditional materials but her appearance also closely matches that of the original ship. Frames are built of fir, stanchions are oak, and deck beams and spars are pine. The frames are covered with a fibreglass laminate structure and the outside layer has the appearance of traditional planking. Standing and running rigging employs Roblon, natural fibre rope, and steel cable with manila surround. She flies a total of six sails consisting of main, foresail, jib, flying jib, gaff-topsail, and staysail. H.M.S. Bee carries up-to-date navigation and safety equipment. The Bee is moored at the King's Wharf and can be visited as part of site admission.
Vessel Type: Gaff
Topsail Schooner
Overall Length: 79 ft.
Length on Deck: 49 ft.
Beam: 15 ft.
Draft: 5 ft.
Displacement: 30.5 Tonnes
Sail Area: 1,275 Square Feet
H.M.S. Tecumseth
The warship H.M.S. Tecumseth is a 124' replica of her namesake that was originally built in Chippewa in 1814 before her eventual transfer to the Penetanguishene Naval Establishment in 1817. One of two warships (the other was H.M.S. Newash) put in 'ordinary' at the Establishment, the original vessel eventually rotted due to a "defect in nature of the timber" and was reported sunk by 1828. In 1953, the original hull of the Tecumseth was raised from Penetanguishene Bay. What remains of the hull now sits in a covered area at the north end of the site. Today's replica vessel was constructed in St. Thomas in 1991, with spars, rigging and interior work done by volunteers and staff at Discovery Harbour over the years. The Tecumseth is moored at the King's Wharf and can be visited as part of site admission.
Vessel Type:
Topsail Schooner
Overall Length: 124 ft.
Length on Deck: 70 ft.
Beam: 24 ft.
Draft: 8 ft.
Displacement: 150 Tonnes
Sail Area: 4,700 Square Feet
The Jolly Boat
The Jolly Boat was a general purpose ship's boat used by the Royal Navy. Commonly used for bringing fresh meat aboard larger ships, it was popularly called a "blood boat". Jolly Boats could be sailed using either a lug or spritsail, and could also be pulled with oars. Discovery Harbour's Jolly Boat is constructed of pine planking on ash frames and uses 4 oars.
Length: 19 ft.
Beam: 6ft. 7 in.
Draft: 1 ft. 2 in.
Displacement: 800 lbs.
The Skiff
Built
with cedar planking on oak frames, the skiff was a small working boat
used for harbour duties, crossing rivers, and transporting people and
goods from ship to shore. The skiff could be rigged with a
spritsail or pulled with 4 oars. Discovery
Harbour’s skiff is also used today as the ship’s boat for H.M.
Schooner Bee.
Length:
14 ft.
Beam:
5 ft.
Draft:
8 in.
Displacement: 500 lbs.
The Gig
Used primarily as a harbour boat, the gig was a quick vessel that was also employed for coastlining and charting. The gig could be rigged with a dipping-lug sail or pulled with 8 oars. Discovery Harbour’s gig is built with pine planking on oak frames. The gig has undergone complete restoration and is now on display.
Length:
29 ft. 2 in.
Beam:
6 ft 6 in.
Draft:
1 ft 4 in.
Displacement:
1,500 lbs.
The Longboat
The
longboat is an example of the open boats used by the British and French
Navies during and after the Napoleonic Wars.
Vessels like this were carried aboard larger warships and were
often detached on independent service.
Sleek
and very fast, the longboat can be sailed using its 2 dipping-lug sails
and a spritsail mizzen. It
can also be pulled with up to 10 oars.
Discovery Harbour’s longboat, also called a
“Bantry Bay” Boat, was built in 1992 and is part of the
Atlantic Challenge Canada youth sail-training program.
For further information on Atlantic Challenge you can visit their
website at www.atlanticchallenge.ca
Length:
38 ft.
Beam:
6 ft 10 in.
Draft:
11 in.
Displacement:
1,800 lbs.
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