Invention of Davits for Ships' Boats

[Sam Willis]

I’m trying to find out when davits were first used for warships but I’m finding it difficult to get information. I suspect it is around 1810ish.

And when they were introduced was it for all warships or did it just begin with frigates or perhaps ships of the line?

Can anyone help?

Thanks
S

[Frank Scott]

Peter Goodwin has quarter davits being introduced in the Royal Navy from the 1790s, and transom davits from 1800.
John Harland mentions that quarter davits were a feature of the Greenland Whaling ships from the early 1600s & says that it is surprising that this feature came so late to men-of-war.

References:
Goodwin. P., The construction & fitting of the Sailing Man of War (London, 1992), pp.213-14
Harland. J., Seamanship in the age of Sail (London, 1987), pp. 284-85

[David Hepper]

Brian Lavery (The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600 – 1815: London 1987) pp.228-229 and 235 – 237) states that Stern Davits can be seen in a model of the Arethusa frigate (1779) in Bristol Museum, and “stern davits can be seen on many ships of the 1800s”. He reproduces a profile and plan drawing of a stern davit, dated 1787.
Lavery claims that Quarter Davits “…were certainly in use by 1805”

[Alexandre Solka]

Dear Mr Willis,

In complement to all the above mentioned useful references, I would just like to present a few other interesting elements.

The first one is from J. H. Craine, Ship Modelling Hints And Tips, Chapter eleven, “Helpful hints on earlier davits”

https://books.google.ch/books?id=2rv7DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=davits+History+of+Navy&source=bl&ots=AfYRDObfHx&sig=UAyD1yxzE_Qt943ivPsnXiPxLRw&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifke2WsI3UAhXEVSwKHe-DDtIQ6AEIVjAI#v=onepage&q=davits%20History%20of%20Navy&f=false

The entire chapter is very useful but the most interesting relevant passage is the following:
“There is one type of davit I must not forget. They were fixed and built in the ship and were in use in the seventeenth century, and, perhaps earlier. I refer to the davits over the stern or counter. They were a special feature of eighteenth century ships and during the Napoleonic Wars these were the only type of davits depicted on paintings, sketches and the contemporary models.”

Secondly, you may also find useful information in this publication: John Leather, The Gaff Rig Handbook: History, Design, Techniques, Developments, especially
pages 207-208, suggesting a Danish connection.

https://books.google.ch/books?id=vunvLutTE7QC&pg=PA208&lpg=PA208&dq=stern+davits+early+eighteenth+century&source=bl&ots=us-3Z9yX61&sig=VxCVe1iyj-OzYLmS9QMvNhOgL6Q&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDrMa6s43UAhXMFSwKHc_9BUkQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=stern%20davits%20early%20eighteenth%20century&f=false

Finally, speaking about Peter Goodwin, you may have a look at his publication “HMS Victory Pocket Manual 1805: Admiral Nelson’s Flagship At Trafalgar”, page 86,
“Using the quarter davits”

https://books.google.ch/books?id=4bYoCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=stern+davits+early+eighteenth+century&source=bl&ots=3wimla52k2&sig=4feKEEl8VvwX-lh9qBVRxDTyWYY&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDrMa6s43UAhXMFSwKHc_9BUkQ6AEIRTAG#v=onepage&q=stern%20davits%20early%20eighteenth%20century&f=false

Also there you may find very interesting details. I wish you may have found my small contribution useful to the matter.

I thank you for your attention and will look forward discussing further on the subject.

Sincerely yours,

Alexandre Solcà

[Author]

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