Discussion devoted mainly to the Anglo-Dutch Wars (at sea), including ships, battles, and persons. Our website, kentishknock.com, is the primary outlet for artwork, research results, and more formal analysis and commentary. Copyright (c) 2003-2007 James C. Bender
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The ship Edam in English service
Both the figure 103ft given by Pepys and the 86ft figure given in Van Foreest and Weber's book both seem incorrect for a keel length for the captured Dutch ship Edam. The Edam was called the Black Bull in English service, after the symbol of Edam. There are conflicting figures for the length of the Edam. The published figures all were 120ft, but there is considerable documentary evidence that indicates that the length was 124ft. Using my rule of thumb, a length of 124ft in Amsterdam feet would give an English keel length of 94ft (or perhaps 93ft). If the Dutch length were 120ft, the English keel length would be 89 or 90 ft., not 86ft.