Pilot cutters transport local pilots to larger ships for safe navigation through dangerous waters. They evolved from small, fast sailboats to modern powered launches, and were historically operated by independent fishermen. Today, they are usually motorized and can vary in design.
A pilot cutter is a boat used to transport port pilots from the mainland or other base of operations to larger ships, usually ocean-going, for the purpose of piloting the larger ship through waters that may be dangerous or difficult to navigate. These pilots are almost always local and have experience and more knowledge of the local waters than the normal pilot or captain of the larger boat. Pilot cutters have evolved over the centuries from very fast small sailboats to modern powered launches.
As sailing vessels became larger, the need for harbor pilots with specialist knowledge of the local waters became apparent in many ports. Most pilots, even as far back as the 16th century, were licensed to operate by local jurisdictions. These pilots were often fishermen and were generally not employed by local governments, but operated on their own account or on contract. This meant that speed was important both to the pilot, who could earn more money by piloting more ships, and to the ship’s captains, who were understandably eager to get to port.
The desire for speed led to the development of the classic pilot mower. These sailboats were small and very fast, with a large sailing area for the size of the ship. Most pilot cutters were single-masted, although some carried two masts. In general, they had very deep drafts, and their hulls were built with a narrow V-shaped cross section designed to maximize speed. They could carry small amounts of cargo and some passengers and were sometimes used to transport messages or valuables to and from larger ships.
As technology has advanced, pilot cutters have changed with the times. However, when the ships transitioned to steam power, most pilot cutters remained under sail, as any steam-powered vessel required time to get going and was probably much larger than a typical pilot cutter. In a good wind, a pilot cutter could usually get the pilot to their destination before a steam launch had even left shore.
In modern times, the term pilot cutter generally refers to motorized vessels that carry pilots to larger ships. The design of these vessels can vary widely, from small, fast boats to somewhat larger vessels that are capable of carrying a small number of passengers or light cargo. In some areas of the world, sail-piloted cutters can still be found, but these are becoming rarer.
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