THE HISTTHE HISTORORY OF THE Y OF THE

WHITEHALLWHITEHALL

H
oward Chapelle states in his bookAmerican Small Sailing Craft that “The Whitehall represents a refinement in an old type rather than a distinct and local innovation. The boat is on the same general model that was used in very fast pulling boat boats, the wherry, boat cutter, and gig from 1690 or earlier, on to the end of the nineteenth century.” All of these boats were of course constructed of wood, the only medium used at the time.“Originally the Whitehall was lap-strake, but caravel had become common in the New York boats by 1850.” M
ystery surrounds the origins of the Whitehall.The early history of this distinctive, elegant and extremely practical craft are unclear. In earlier times builders were often sailors or seafaring men. Taught by the sea to be conservative, they stuck with the tried and true. Successful designs for large and small craft alike evolved slowly and as certain desirable qualities were attained and perfected they rarely changed. Q
uoting from noted author and marine historianJohn Gardner, “The Whitehall was not a ship’s boat, but a vehicle of harbor and coastwise transportation. Intended primarily to be rowed, but capable of a good showing under sail as well, it was fast, seaworthy, and trim. W
hitehalls were in great demand in the days of sailon the waterfront of a big commercial port such as New York City and Boston in the early nineteenth century. Not only were these boats the choice of crimps and boarding sailboat house runners, but of nearly everyone else as well who required reliable and expeditious transportation from one part of the harbor to another – pilots, ship’s crews, brokers, ship chandlers, newspaper reporters, insurance agents, doctors, and many others. S
ome hold that the Whitehall design wasintroduced from England. However, the famed nautical historian Howard I. Chappelle, cites the opinion of the late W.P. Stephens that in New York City there is a Whitehall Street and this was where the Whitehall was first built. Chappelle, Stephens and others agree that the design came into existence some time in the 1820’s in New York City, having first been built by navy yard apprentices who had derived their model to some extent from the old navy gig. Q
uoting from Rudder magazine, August 1943,Captain Carlton L. Smith states a somewhat contrary view, “This delver into nautical lore has never been able to ascertain whether the Whitehall boat originated at Whitehall, New York, or at Whitehall, England. It is extremely likely from the latter place. At any rate, the model of a “pure breed” Whitehall, that was so useful a rowed-on-the gunnel workboat at Boston and at The Battery at New York City and, later, at San Francisco, evolved from the “English Wherry.” 30