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Jolly Boat

small wooden boat lying slightly tilted on green grass and flying Union Jack flag. It has four sets of oarlocks and four thwarts, two with holes for sail masts.

Credit: Courtesy of the Provincial Marine Amherstburg.

 

The jolly boat was a type of ship’s boat in use during the 18th and 19th centuries. The origins of the name is the subject of debate, but by the 18th century it was one of a number of ship’s boats, and was used mainly to ferry personnel to and from the ship, or for other small scale activities.