Programs

Historic Bateaux Built at Maritime Center

Students of the former Capital Region Maritime Academy, located at the Capital Region Maritime Center from 2001 through 2011,  built historic  batueax modeled according to specifications obtained through research. The boats were built under the guidance of Master Craftsman Greg Pattison who was a teacher at the Academy.  These bateaux were donated to the Mabee Farm, which continues to utilize them to teach students and the general public about the history of Schenectady, and the boats built here during the Revolutionary War.

The two bateaux, the “De Sager” and the “Bobbie G”, are docked seasonally at the Mabee Farm dock on the Mohawk River. The bateaux have appeared in documentaries and films, including one on the Potomac River in Virginia for Greystone Films: George Washington, Man of Decision for the Mount Vernon Visitors Center. The bateaux also take part in the Mabee Farm’s annual re-enactment. The “DeSager” has also been sailed from Rotterdam Junction  to Kingston for the “Burning of Kingston”. The “DeSager” has also participated in events at Herkimer Home, Waterford, Edward Island, and Schenectady’s Walkabout.

The Capital Region Maritime Center is thrilled to see these bateaux remain in use under the loving care of the Mabee Farm and the volunteers affiliated with their historic programs, many of whom belong to the 2nd Albany Militia Re-enactment group.

 

HISTORY OF THE BATEAUX

According to the Mabee Farm website, “In the 18th century, the upper Hudson River and the lower Mohawk River (now the  NYS Canal System) were not easy to navigate. Both rivers had stretches of deep placid water, but they also had sand bars, gravel bars, rock ledges, shallows, and rapids. In a dry year, there were places where the water was only six inches deep.

Despite this, the two rivers were the easiest route, so a substantial amount of cargo was moved through the area. From the early 18th century, the military moved supplies to outposts along Lake Champlain, the Great Lakes, and the Canadian border. Later, agricultural products and furs traveled from the western lands, downstream to the cities along the coast. Finished goods and other necessities were carried back into the countryside.

To travel on the rivers, a vessel that was both high in cargo capacity and shallow in draft was needed. From the early 1700s until the 1800s, the
preferred vessel for river travel was the bateau. These boats were easy and cheap to construct, handy to row, pole, or sail, and spacious enough to hold a profitable cargo.

Schenectady was home to boat builders and dozens of boat crews that that served to bring goods west. Some trips were only as far as present-day Herkimer, while others went as far as Michilimackinac, an outpost at the straits connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron. A common commercial trip was to bring goods as far as Niagara Falls, where the goods were then loaded onto sloops to cross Lake Erie. The trip from Schenectady to Niagara and back took about one month to complete.

A typical commercial boat was crewed by three men: one steering and the other two rowing, or all three poling the boat or hauling it through shallows. Any passengers were expected to help row.

During the French and Indian War in the 1750s, Pontiac’s War in the 1760s, and the American Revolution in the 1770s, Schenectady and the Mohawk River saw fleets of bateaux used by the military. Often, the boat crews were enlisted from civilian bateaumen.

After the American Revolution, there was a concentrated effort to improve the river to allow larger boats to transport cargo. By the early 19th century, canals were replacing the natural river as the preferred navigational waterway, leading to the eventual disappearance of the bateau as a sensible means of transporting cargo.”

MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL CARGO

“Bateaux were cargo vessels, first and foremost. Supplies were usually packed in barrels, bales, or boxes, which were loaded into the bateaux for
transport. The two most common types of bateaux in this area were the Schenectady and the Albany. The Schenectady, which was 30 to 35 feet long and 6 feet wide, could carry 1 1/2 tons of cargo or 33 soldiers and their equipment. The Albany, which was 25 feet long and 5 feet wide, could carry 1 ton of cargo or 15 soldiers and their equipment. In addition to their cargo, these bateaux carried a standard crew of three men and their personal belongings, plus food and supplies enough for a month’s voyage.

Commercial cargo was primarily manufactured goods, moving westward to farms and settlements, and raw materials, moving eastward to opulation centers and seaports.

CREDIT: Mabee Farm

 

WHAT:  NYS BOATING SAFETY TRAINING

WHEN: The last Boating Safety Training Class was held in August, 2011.  Please contact us if you’re interested in a class for 2012.

WHERE: Capital Region Maritime Center

901 Maritime Ave, Alplaus, NY 12008

WHO: Adults and Kids 10+

HOW MUCH: $35 total.  (Includes all materials, a tax-deductable $25 facility charge + $10 filing fee to NYS Parks for students 18 and older, payable separately.)

CRMC MEMBERS: Join CRMC and pay only the $10 fee

The Capital Region Maritime Center will hold a NYS BOATING SAFETY TRAINING course for adults and kids 10 years old and up.

• The 8-hour course will be taught over three (3) evenings from 6-9 PM  on August 23, 24 and 25. STUDENTS MUST ATTEND ALL 3 CLASSES and BE ON TIME to be eligible for the 50-question multiple choice final examination, held the last day of class.
• Successful completion leads to a NYS Safe Boating Certificate necessary for youth ages 10 to 17 to legally operate a motorboat solo. It is also needed for ALL operators 14 and over to legally operate a personal watercraft (PWC) which includes Jet skis, etc.
• The course is free but there is a $25 facilities use fee ($50 max per family) payable by check to the Capital Region Maritime Center.  The course is free to CRMC members.
• With advance notice, accommodations can be made for persons having disabilities.
• There is a $10 filing fee with NYS Parks for students 18+ to receive their certificate. Youth 10-17 no cost. Minimum age to participate in the course is 10 years.
• To reserve a seat, send a check for $25 (non-refundable) for each registrant made to the Capital Region Maritime Center and the student name (s), address, and phone number to CRMC Boaters Safety Training, PO Box 22, Alplaus, NY 12008.
• Class will remain open for registration until all seats are sold. (40 students maximum)
• NYS Safe Boating Certificates will be given to students to pass the course. Certificates are good for life and never have to be renewed. Some insurance companies may offer discounts to certificate holders.
• For more information or to reserve a seat call 518-384-0644.

Special thanks to Neil Satterly, Certified Instructor, who is providing his services for this course free of charge.

Call 518-384-0644 to reserve your spot right away.