Phase 1B Underwater Archaeological Report for the Onondaga ...

FINAL
Phase IB Underwater Archaeological Resources Report for Onondaga Lake Superfund Site
maximize cargo capacity.” 99 As the canal and its locks were enlarged, the sizes of canal boat grew to
adapt to these changes (Figure 19 and Table 1). Prior to 1860, most canal boats were built plank-onframe;
however, the use of larger, cheaper wood led to the construction of slab sided (edge-fastened)
vessels.
Table 1. Vessel dimensions as the canal size changed.
Year
Length
(feet)
Width Draft
durham boat 50 to 60 10 to 8 2
1817 to 1862 78 14.5 3.5
1862 to 1915 97 17.5 6.5
1915 150 25 10
Figure 19. Diagrams showing the comparative maximum sizes of Durham boat [pre-Erie Canal], an
original Erie canal boat and an enlarged Erie canal boat (from www.eriecanal.org).
After the completion of the canal expansion in 1862, state law mandated that all canal boats be built
with rounded bows to minimize the impacts of accidents on the canal. Prior to this, canal boats were
quickly constructed with squared bows and sterns which lead to damage to the canal prism as sharp
cornered boats gouged into the canal embankment. Also, the corners were easily sheered-off allowing
cargo to be dumped into the canal. In the 1860s quality lumber became scarce along the canal due to
nearly 50 years of canal construction and local development. This resulted in many smaller shipyards
abandoning boat building and instead focusing on canal boat repairs and maintenance. Places on the
western end of the canal, such as Buffalo, Tonawanda and Lockport, became major boatbuilding hubs,
28