Schuyt

A pair of schuyts aground, in a print dated 1860.

A schuyt is a flat-bottomed sailing boat used in the Netherlands, originally for fishing or carrying light cargoes. In the 17th century, they were rigged with two masts like a ketch, but by the 19th century, had adopted a single mast like a sloop.^[1]

A typical schuyt at the turn of the 20th century was described as having a large rudder which could be raised by an arrangement of blocks and tackles and a pair of leeboards. Schyuts engaged in eel fishing were said to have begun visiting London in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and were granted the use of a berth there, which continued in use until the 20th century.^[2]

References

1. Blackburn Graham (2003), The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ships and Boats, I B Taurus, ISBN 1-86064-839-8 (p. 302)
2. Carr, Norman S (2014). "The Sailors: Amateur British & Irish Yachtsmen Before World War One - Holland in London". www.smallcraft.net. Retrieved 12 February 2016.