Which ships can go on a river?

[jabberwoky]

A few of my fellow players are wondering which ships are appropriate to sailing down rivers. Out of the ships listed here (from the Skull & Shackles Player's Guide), which would you surmise could move freely on rivers?

Galley [Colossal size], propelled by muscle, sails or current
Junk [Colossal size], propelled by sails or current
*Keelboat [Gargantuan size], propelled by muscle, sails or current
*Longship [Colossal size], propelled by muscle, sails or current
Raft [Large size], propelled by muscle or current
Rowboat [Large size], propelled by muscle or current
Sailing Ship [Colossal Size], propelled by sails or current
Ships Boat [Large Size], propelled by muscle, wind or current
Warship [Colossal Size], propelled by muscle, wind or current

*These ships mention rivers in their descriptions

[Chymist]

I would suggest that the raft, rowboat, and ships boat are a definite yes. Sailing ships and warships tend to have deep keels and would only work in deep rivers, these are rare and even then tend to have sand bars. I am not sure about the junk, but it would probably not work. Galleys can be shallow drafted, I would say OK on larger rivers only.

[Chengar Qordath]

Longships should be good for going up rivers too—they were rather well known for their ability to do so.

[LazarX]

Look up various ship types and see how much waterline draft they have.

Your river has to be at least that much deep plus a bit more for them to safely travel upon them. Also keep in mind that the farther you go inland, the shallower the rivers become. The Passaic River, in New Jersey, for example, is only navigable for very small craft more than 3 or four miles upriver.

This is why boats designed for river travel, such as barges and steamboats, have flat bottoms. flat bottom boats draw the least amount.

[jabberwoky]

Chengar Qordath wrote:

Longships should be good for going up rivers too—they were rather well known for their ability to do so.

Would the colossal size modifier of a longship be a problem when navigating a river?

[Chymist]

I left out longships and keelboats, as they are specifically noted as being able to travel rivers. Viking longships use the rivers to raid most of Europe including Paris. The only issue with size would be in a very narrow river, you would not be able to turn around.

[jabberwoky]

I also heard that viking longships could be transported over land.

1. Is this true?
2. If it is true, how did they do it?

[uriel222]

jabberwoky wrote:

I also heard that viking longships could be transported over land.

1. Is this true?
2. If it is true, how did they do it?

1. Yes

2. They picked them up and carried them (though not that far).
They mostly went up rivers, though.

Bear in mind, if a ship can't row, it better be a BIG river, or else the ship won't be able to sail (you need room to tack). Rowed tugs, or being pulled by horses on shore work too.

[Vod Canockers]

That is going to depend upon the river. There are rivers that are navigable by quite large ships, such as the Mississippi, Yangtze, and Amazon.

With the aid of canals and dredging, easily maintained using elementals, any decent river system is going to be navigable by just about any sort of wooden sailing ship. A quick check, it looks like 30' (9m) is about the deepest draft for a wooden ship, your river needs to be deeper than than and wider than the boat.

[Matt_Scudder]

Yes, portages.

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