Caribbean Tales - Ships - Barque
Barque (Bark)
Before the 1700's the name was applied to any small vessel. Later it applied
to a small ship having three masts. The first two being square-rigged, and
the third (aft mast) being fore-and-aft rigged. They also did not have a beak-head.
Fast ship with shallow draft, their bottom was very flat, to allow them to
beach and offload cargo in relative ease. Favorite of Caribbean pirates. Crew
around max. of 90 in cramped quarters.
Bark sizes: ship rigged 48m long and 10m wide, 12 cannon: snow rigged 35m
long 8 cannon, 7.6m wide: brig rigged 23m long, 6m wide, 6 cannon: sloop rigged
16m long, 4.2m wide, 4 cannon.