With the introduction of steam and the development of the early paddle steamers, or 'flappers' as the Americans call them, new problems of ship-handling were encountered which required a specialised form of seamanship. This book endeavours to find out how the seamen of the day contrived to make these vessels sea worthy and weatherly.
In extreme conditions, paddle wheel propulsion was f=often found inadequate and control of the ship only maintained with the help of her sails, Sails also instilled passenger confidence, for breakdowns did occur, and were in fact vital to the success of the voyage by reducing fuel consumption and increasing speed. Masts and yards di, however slow the steamer in strong headwinds and extra crew were needed to handle the canvas. Furthermore, by the end of the passage, paddle wheel immersion was less efficient and the reduced stability adversely affected sailing performance.
The solutions to all these problems form the core of this book, and the author's text and illustrations provide a vivid picture of how the well-established traditions of the sailing ship were adapted to promote the development of the paddle ships and earl screw vessels on the inhospitable seas of the North Atlantic.