Boatsteerer Explained

A boatsteerer was a position on a nineteenth-century whaleship. One of the most responsible members of the crew, his duty was to pull the forward oar of a whaleboat until reaching striking distance of a whale. He then would harpoon the whale with an iron while the boat-handler (mate) guided the boat.^{[1] [2]}

See also

• History of Whaling

Notes and References

1. Web site: Harpooners & Boatsteerers . 2008-08-13 . The Kendall Institute . 2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052537/http://www.whalingmuseum.org/library/heros/harpoon/boatsteerer.html . 2008-11-21 .
2. Web site: Nantucket Whaleboat Adventure Rowing Club. 2008-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080905203445/http://www.nantucketcommunitysailing.org/page/programs/whale_boat#. 2008-09-05. dead.