French Xebec

Description

The term xebec refers to a small, fast vessel of the 16th to 19th centuries which were used almost exclusively in and around the Mediterranean Sea. The Earliest Xebecs had two masts; the later ones were equipped with three. Xebecs featured a distinctive hull with pronounced overhanging bow and stern, and rarely displaced more than 200 tons, making them slightly smaller and with slightly fewer guns than frigates of the period.

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, a large xebec carried a square rig on the foremast, lateen sails on the other masts, a bowsprit, and two headsails. The square sail distinguished the form of a Xebec from that of a felucca.

Sea-going Mediterranean peoples greatly favoured Xebecs as corsairs, and for this purpose built them with a narrow floor to achieve a higher speed than their victims, but with a considerable beam in order to enable them to carry an extensive sail-plan. When used as corsairs they carried a crew of 300 to 400 men and mounted perhaps 16 to 40 guns according to size. In peacetime operations, the xebec was used to transport merchandise.

The kit of the Xebec features a double plank on frame hull construction, building plans with general details, English instructions, lost wax brass castings, walnut and lime planking, wooden masts and spars, brass and walnut fittings, etched detailings, rigging cord and silk flags. All sheet ply sections are laser cut for accuracy.

 
Scale 1:49    Length 520mm