These pictures show the thwarts (the seating) and duckboards these allow the crew to move about the boat without treading on the shell of the boat. Captain Bligh and 18 men were cast adrift in the South Pacific Ocean in a 23 foot boat. The people in the boat with Bligh were: John Fryer, William Elphinstone, William Cole, William Peckover, William Purcell, Thomas Denman Ledward, Thomas Hayward, John Hallet, Peter Linkletter, John Norton, George Simpson, Thomas Hall, Robert Lamb, David Nelson, Lawrence LeBogue, John Samuel, John Smith, and Robert Tinkler. Bligh then proceeded to make one of the most heroic voyages in history.

First they made to the nearby island of Tofoa. The natives were hostile and they were lucky to get away with only the loss of John Norton, who was a hero in allowing the boat to escape. Then there were eighteen men with enough food and water for five days. Bligh made the decision to sail to Kupang and to reapportion the food to serve for 50 days. They eventually made the heroic voyage in 48 days, landing in Timor on June 12, 1789. No one died on the voyage, however three men died in Batavia. Bligh’s Clerk, John Samuel, saved the Log and Bligh’s journals and Bligh was grateful to him for his loyal actions. You can imagine how cramped and uncomfortable the voyage must have been.

Showing detail of the Rudder, small Carronade mounted on the gunwale, and a tow rope spliced onto a ringbolt mounted onto the keel at the bow.

A nice overhead shot of the boat, and a detail showing the bowsprit.