Boats

Definition, Parts, and Operation
Boats are vessels that are generally smaller and less capable than ships. For example, boats are less seaworthy as described in Environment: Sea: Waves: Angle of Collision on Vessels. Although also capable of transporting characters and cargo (items), boats are primarily built for specific limited purposes including ferrying passengers. Parts of a boat include the hull, decks, and rigging, which are all determined by boat classification.


 * The hull broadly refers to the entire main body area of the boat including the bottom, sides, and all decks within it. The hull specifically refers to just the bottom and sides of the boat.
 * Decks are a vessel's floors or levels; boats only have one deck.
 * Rigging encompasses all sails, spars, shrouds, and lines, all attached boat's mast(s).

Operation
Boat operation can includes trimming sails and rowing with oars, steering the boat with the helm. It is possible to operate a boat with at least one human character but it is more effective to operate a boat with a larger crew of human characters. U nder each type of boat classification, the minimum required crew to operate the boat is provided indicating the fewest number of crew members required to sail or row. Note, the minimum required crew to operate the boat does not include the crew required to man the cannons if equipped.

Boats move based on multiple factors including: ocean conditions such as currents, propulsion from oars by rowing, and propulsion from sails by sailing depending on wind conditions.

Boat Access Stations
In order for human characters to operate a boat, they must use one of the boat's access stations, most of which can be operated by one player. Boat access stations, where equipped, include:




 * Piloting Station:
 * Helm Station: Used for steering/piloting the vessel. Controls are as follows:
 * Steer Starboard: Gradually adjusts the rudder to steer the vessel starboard of its current heading within a set range.
 * Steer Port: Gradually adjusts the rudder to steer the vessel port of its current heading within a set range.


 * Sail Stations: See Sailing and Rowing.


 * Oar Stations: See Sailing and Rowing.




 * The Oar Station: Used to control the oars (or transport them) if the vessel has oars installed or as cargo. For operation, see sailing and rowing.

Size

 * Light: Smaller and less durable than mid and heavy.
 * Mid: Larger and more durable than light; smaller and less durable than heavy.
 * Heavy: Larger and more durable than mid.

Type

 * Long Boat: Long boats are entirely filled with rows of benches that can be occupied with passengers or items (such as arms). The light long boat requires at least 1 human character to row with oars, the mid and heavy long boats require at least 2 human characters to row with oars, one on each side, and all long boats also require one human character to steer the tiller but facilitates multiple rows of oars on each side for human characters to use when sitting on such rows in the left and right sections.
 * Light Capacity: 8 passengers/crates. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈7 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 1 by 2 or fewer crates.
 * Mid Capacity: 21 passengers/crates. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈19 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 1 by 3 or fewer crates.
 * Heavy Capacity: 40 passengers/crates. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈38 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 1 by 4 or fewer crates.
 * Gun Boat: Gun boats are similar to long boats except they carry a light cannon(s) that can be used with compatible artillery shots. They weight of the cannon(s) slows the boat down.
 * Mid Cannon Capacity: 1 cannon.
 * Heavy Cannon Capacity: 3 cannons.
 * Canoe: Thinner than other boats, canoes have better rowing acceleration and speed but less capacity.
 * One Masted (Sail) Boat with one of the following riggings:


 * Two Masted Sail Boat with one of the following riggings:

One and two masted boats have sails for sailing, oarlocks for rowing, and a storage container that provides a cargo inventory. Proper sailing and ideal wind conditions allows for faster speeds. However, sails and a cargo inventory somewhat reduce the space available for human characters.


 * Barge: The barge is one of the largest boats and is capable of carrying the most cargo. Barges require at least 2 human characters to row with oars, one on each side, and all long boats also require one human character to steer the tiller.
 * Mid Capacity: 25 passengers/cargo. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈23 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 3 by 7 or fewer crates.
 * Heavy Capacity: 50 passengers/cargo. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈48 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 4 by 11 or fewer crates.
 * Landing Craft: The landing craft is one of the largest boats and is capable of carrying the 50 slots of passengers or the equivalent in cargo but, as a result, is one of the slowest boat. In order to minimally but independently operate this boat, the cargo capacity is ≈48 crates, the largest item occupying ≈ 4 by 11 or fewer slots. It includes a light cannon. Its operation involves at least 2 human characters rowing, 1 on each side, and can also have the following dedicated positions: 1 human character steering using the tiller, 1 human character operating its cannon.