[Percival W. Legge]

While attempting to learn something about 18th century sailing and navigation, at least enough to make use of it as story inspiration, I came across several 19th century books about seamanship and navigation on google books. In case anyone else is interested, I'm listing them here. Keep in mind that these weren't published until 100 years or more in the future as far as our characters are concerned.

Below are links to websites, books, diagrams, maps, other forum threads (in that order).


Articles of war:

The "Articles of War" from 1661. (First revised in 1749.)


Websites:

The Lexington Practicum study of a model brigantine.

* rigging plan
* the running rigging.
* the standing rigging.

General principles of working a ship.

Description of ship's parts with diagrams.

The art of tacking.


Books:

Marine Dictionary:

Falconer's Universal Dictionary of the Marine (1780)


Gunnery:

Instructions for the exercise and service of great guns, etc. (1858)

The seaman's catechismn and instructor in gunnery, etc (1868)

Both are official training manuals from the Royal Navy.

Navigation and seamanship:

John William Norie: A complete epitome of practical navigation (1852, 15th edition)

John William Norie: A complete set of nautical tables (1836, 8th edition)

Richard Henry Dana: The seaman's friend: containg a treatise on practical seamanship (1851, 6th edition)

* Contains descriptions of the different jobs on board for the merchant navy: master, mates, carpenter, cook, able seamen, ordinary seamen, and others.

James Lees: Dana's seaman's friend (1856, "new edition")

John McNeil Boyd: Manual for naval cadets (1864, 3rd edition)

* Includes description of organisation aboard.

George Strong Nares: Seamanship (1868, 4th edition)

* Has extensive list of all the ship's parts

Robert Kipping: Rudimentary treatise on masting, mast-making, and rigging of ships (1864, 9th edition)

* Contains a diagram of the rigging.

Stephen Bleecker Luce: Seamanship (1868, 4th edition)

* Work at sea.
* What to do in storms.

Diagrams:

Section and rigging of a third rate ship of war.

Mast and sail array of a frigate.

Rigging plan of a model brigantine.


Maps:

Map of the West Indies accurate for circa 1740.


Other forum threads:

Questions about royal navy life

Historic Material and Research

History timeline


If you know of other resources, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

This post has been edited by Percival W. Legge on Sep 10 2010, 04:46 AM

[Rodrigo Sol Valera]

Some other resources which might be useful for a roleplay set in those times and places...

Ressources about fencing scenes and duels

http://caraking.com/Duelling.html

http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2009...ency-duels.html

http://www.rpglibrary.org/articles/faqs/fencing.php

http://www.thearma.org/manuals.htm

http://www.thearma.org/essays.htm

How a sword was made

http://www.thearma.org/essays/How_Were_Swords_Made.htm

History of the Caribbean islands

http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/history/

Daily life in the 18-th century

http://www.localhistories.org/18thcent.html

http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeingeorgi...202mbp_djvu.txt

British Society of those times (Culture, education, etiquette and many more details)

http://wiki.ageofintrigue.com/index.php/Category:Society

British economy (a little earlier than our game... but might do for the general overview)

http://wiki.ageofintrigue.com/index.php/Category:Economy

Life in Colonial America in the 18-th century… the Caribbeans mustn’t be too far from it!

http://www.localhistories.org/18thcentcolonial.html

Think of writing a letter? Postal services in 18-th century

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2009...the-penny-post/

The cost of living

http://footguards.tripod.com/08HISTORY/08_costofliving.htm

A history of Banking – which just started developing in this period

http://www.localhistories.org/banking.html

Resources regarding social events of that time can be found here

Credits: Thanks to Fluff from Age of Intrigue and all the others who helped me compile this far from exhaustive list!

[Rodrigo Sol Valera]

As I was planning the sea battle with the Spanish galeon... I thought I'd post the resources on naval fights in the Age of Sail, too! Some of the information may repeat from a link to another... but not everything!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_tactics...the_Age_of_Sail

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...ail-tactics.htm

http://www.chesapeakepicaroons.org/DailyLife/tactics.html

http://www.search.com/reference/Naval_tact...the_Age_of_Sail

http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/hist/navalwar.htm

http://www.io.com/gibbonsb/pob/

http://www.napoleonguide.com/navyind.htm

http://ageoffightingsail.com/

http://ageofsail.wordpress.com/category/naval-battles/

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=125137

http://www.ahrtp.com/HallofFameOnline3/Mar...storyLinks2.htm

http://books.google.ro/books?id=iEIus2v8sK...%20Sail&f=false