When did grassing boats become common?

Good morning, Richard~

Interesting topic - about which I have pondered over the years.

I would need to re-read some of my older references, but here are my main thoughts:

1) Grassing/thatching has been around a long time. I have understood that Barnegat Bay Sneakboxes, for example, were no grassed up per se - i.e., no thatch rails to secure thatch (Salt Hay) for the season. Rather, the gunners simply grabbed whatever was handy at the gunning site on a daily basis - I imagine from the wrack line. Many of the Sneakboxes had toe rails along the gunnels. I always presumed they were to hold either grass/seaweed/wrack or ice whilst gunning. BTW: Even though I grass my boats to a fare-thee-well, I usually tossed some wrack over the decks once I arrived at my spot - mostly to break up the symmetry, and to blend in.

2) I believe thatch rails may have been "invented" on Long Island. Again, I am not sure of the era. This photo is from the Pattersquash Club on Bellport Bay circa 1923:

43 Walter Cook Jr and Walter Cook Sr poling from early Pelican Island shack - HUNT.jpg

Many Benjamin Hallock Scooters - finished as "grassboats" with thatch rails - date back to the 1920s and 30s.

This Ralph Cranford - of Babylon - gunning skiff (grassboat) used a combination of bronze wires on the decks and thatch rails around the cockpit, on the stool rack and even on the folding oarlock stanchions to secure Salt Hay. The vessel may be as early as 1910.

1726753969357.jpeg

From what have gathered, older gunning boats north and south of Long Island used grass or wrack for day-by-day camouflage, but did not use thatch rails until more recent (post WW II) decades.

I can certainly believe gunning vessels were grassed up earlier than the 20th century. And, the practice may have arisen in locations other than - or in addition to - Great South Bay. One reason I try to do what I do is to document information relative to our grand passion wherever/whenever I can. Sometimes, though, we are left to speculate.

All the best,

SJS
 

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Considering that the first decoys discovered are Native American Decoys, and many hundreds of years old. Depending on how far back ya wanna go it makes sense that the "grassing of boats" took place a long time ago before the modern age.
 
Thanks, photos like this had me wondering.


and this one.


but then you have this photo from same set.

 
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New Jersey guys hunted out of a BBSB used to grab eel grass when they reached their hunting spots to hide their boxes.
 
We’ve always grassed our grass boats on Long Island where I hunt the salt marshes on the south shore. I learned from my dad and his friends who have been hunting the bays for over 40 years. Even what grass to use was always a topic for discussion but thatch was always the best over salt hay.
 
Thanks, photos like this had me wondering.


and this one.


but then you have this photo from same set.

Richard~

That last photo illustrates the idea of ad hoc "grassing" - with Eelgrass (Zostera marina) being common in the wrack line - right where the sneakbox would hide.

All the best,

SJS
 
Ahhh Grassing, the "worst-part" of the duck season! Definitely a labor intensive job but nothing truly compares quite like it...
Interesting question though, as Steve mentioned from what I've learned the Thatching Rails were likely developed here on Long Island NY. I know where I live in my town the "Salt-Hay" was a huge industry in the late 1800's early 1900's. We are blessed enough with some beautiful long grass that makes the perfect cover.
I have to admit, nowadays after many years of grassing and limited time I've switched over to synthetic solutions the raffia grass, camo netting and a combo of both.

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Ahhh Grassing, the "worst-part" of the duck season! Definitely a labor intensive job but nothing truly compares quite like it...
Interesting question though, as Steve mentioned from what I've learned the Thatching Rails were likely developed here on Long Island NY. I know where I live in my town the "Salt-Hay" was a huge industry in the late 1800's early 1900's. We are blessed enough with some beautiful long grass that makes the perfect cover.
I have to admit, nowadays after many years of grassing and limited time I've switched over to synthetic solutions the raffia grass, camo netting and a combo of both.

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Anthony~

Cutting Salt Hay indeed requires a bit of time, but....not too much if you have just one vessel!

All the best,

SJS
 
Did they have grass rails for long term grassing, or did they gather on-site each hunt or maybe re-use what was cut and left on site?
Eric & Jode~

I bow to Jode's expertise on any Jersey vessels, but....note that Chappelle did not show thatch rails - or even toe rails - on this 1880s 'box - even though he took the lines off around 1950.

BTW, Eric: If you do build a traditional Barnegat Bay Sneakbox, this "superior model" would be the one! (These plans are framed to greet visitors in our mud room.)

Chappelle page 213 - small.jpg


All the best!

SJS
 
Steve

Those plans have the offsets which is a big benefit over some of the other plans where you'd need to pull them from the hull lines. How hard do you think it would be to modify those from displacement to planing? Total rework midship back? I haven't analyzed the needed steps yet but suspect you have a pretty good idea of how to go about that mod.
 
Did they have grass rails for long term grassing, or did they gather on-site each hunt or maybe re-use what was

It varied by Gunner and location. Grass and weed was never in short supply. So it was usually gathered on site along the coast. Also it made it safer and easier to traverse open water in rough weather without the added weight and water absorption of grass.
 
It varied by Gunner and location. Grass and weed was never in short supply. So it was usually gathered on site along the coast. Also it made it safer and easier to traverse open water in rough weather without the added weight and water absorption of grass.
Jode~

Your thoughts about the added weight of "permanent grass" sure ring true. I've always been cognizant of the weight - especially soaked or frozen hay - with my outboard-powered vessels - but it would be especially importantly whilst under sail.

See you in Tuckerton!

SJS
 
Safety and transportation on trailers were major factors in why my gunning partners and I never grassed our sneakboxs (nor my marsh boat) prior to hunting. Granted we Did Not Hunt Salt. We hunted Fresh Water Great lakes marshes, inland lakes, marshes and rivers. We all carried machetes and Army surplus spades to cut what was needed and shoveled to cover just Enough of the boat. Camo netting over half of the reclining hunter, and to cover the cockpit and it all worked just fine.

Nasty weather with rain turning to wet snow and dropping temps are ideal tolling conditions and common for the areas we hunt. Wet material that then freezes is a recipe for disaster and it can happen very fast. Freeboard disappears right before yer eyes. Your "you know what" will pucker up real fast. Ya gotta pickup and head for shore as best ya can ASAP.

In that vein pre grassing is more trouble than it's worth. I'm fairly certain that many of the old time gunners in some areas felt the same way. Less is More.

my 2 cents
 
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