List of boats in Arthur Ransome books

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This is a listing of boats from the Swallows and Amazons series of books by Arthur Ransome. Arthur Ransome based many of the boats on real ones that he knew or had owned.

  • Swallow: A Morecambe Bay sailing dinghy with a small keel, based on a Ransome's own sailing dinghy also called Swallow. The fictional Swallow was owned by the Jacksons of Holly Howe. She features in many of the books.
  • Amazon: A sailing dinghy with an iron centreboard, supposedly based on the Mavis owned by the Altounyan family, who were models for the Walker family. The Amazon was owned by the Blackett family. She features in many of the books.
  • Wild Cat: A small green schooner (based on a Baltic trading schooner). Used by Captain Flint to take the children on the adventures described in Peter Duck and Missee Lee, the Wild Cat is fictional.
  • Viper: A large black schooner sailed by Black Jake and his crew in pursuit of the Wild Cat across the Atlantic Ocean to Crab Island in Peter Duck.
  • Teasel: A Norfolk Broads cruising yacht featured in Coot Club. Ransome hired similar yachts when sailing on the Broads.
  • Titmouse: A sailing dinghy owned by Tom Dudgeon in Coot Club and The Big Six.
  • Death and Glory: A converted ship's lifeboat used by the sons of Norfolk boatbuilders in Coot Club and The Big Six.
  • Flash: A racing dinghy owned by Mr Farland and crewed by Port and Starboard in Coot Club. She is based on a class of Norfolk racing dinghies.
  • Margoletta: A large powerboat hired by the Hullabaloos in Coot Club, typical of 1930s cabin cruisers.
  • Wizard and Firefly: Sailing dinghies used by the Swallows and Amazons while exploring Secret Water.
  • Scarab: A sailing dinghy similar to the Amazon which was built for the D's in The Picts and the Martyrs. Apparently based on Ransome's own sailing dinghy which replaced the Swallow.
  • Sea Bear: A borrowed cruising yacht based on a Baltic pilot boat, used by Captain Flint to take the Swallows, Amazons and D's on a cruise in the Hebrides in Great Northern?.
  • Pterodactyl: A large sea-going powerboat used as a headquarters on his expeditions by the egg collector, Mr Jemmerling in Great Northern?.
  • The Shining Moon, a small Chinese junk from Missee Lee herself takes them back from the Three Islands via Singapore to St Mawes, Cornwall at the end of Missee Lee.
  • The Cachalot, a smallish white motor cruiser, is lent by her fisherman owner in The Big Six to act as bait for the real culprits who are casting off yachts.
  • Captain Flint's Houseboat appears in Swallows and Amazons and The Picts and the Martyrs. She has blue sides, and is called the Fram in Winter Holiday.
  • The Beckfoot Launch comes chug, chugging to the landing place at the end of Swallows and Amazons, and also appears in Swallowdale. She is kept in the Beckfoot boathouse, along with a rowing dinghy or skiff.
  • The Norfolk wherry Sir Garnet, skippered by Jim Wooddall (with Simon Fastgate), appears in Coot Club and The Big Six. The Thames sailing barge Welcome skippered by Jack Whittle (with 'Awkins) appears in Coot Club. Peter Duck himself has a wherry, the Arrow of Norwich.
  • The motor tow boat Come Along tows the Teasel, Titmouse and Death and Glory home at the end of Coot Club. She is owned by Old Bob.