A Wad- and Sontvaarder is a type of ship for coastal shipping. It is a wider version of the Luxe Motor and has a slightly larger hull. To be able to and allowed to sail at sea, a greater seaworthiness is required. According to the standards of the former Shipping Inspection, or Germanischer Lloyd, Bureau Veritas and similar classification agencies, these ships are heavier in construction. Intended for sailing towards the Baltic Sea, they are the successors of the Groninger Zeetjalken and Schoeners. Most of these ships were launched from the Groninger shipyards along the Winschoterdiep.
In connection with the possibility of the stern running into high waves before the wind, the stern deck is slightly higher on these ships, with a falling back transom or two-part transom (upright and falling inwards) and also the bulwark is often slightly higher. There are large scuppers, sometimes with tilting valves, a higher head and the lowest point of the sea is often slightly further forward. The ships sometimes have portholes instead of sliding windows in the roof.
With the early versions, around 1925, the insurance companies required an auxiliary sail rig, because they did not consider the engines to be reliable enough. The rig initially consisted of a jib and a mainsail, but later only a jib before and a triangular sail behind the mast was used. When that was no longer necessary, this rig was maintained, because the harbor fees in several Baltic Sea ports were lower for sailing ships than for ships without rigging. During and shortly after World War II, when there was scarcity and high fuel prices, such an auxiliary sailboat was also useful. After the mast had served as a loading mast for a few more years, it disappeared in the early 1950s.
This type of ship is no longer built, because it is too small and therefore too expensive for the current economic conditions for shipping.
Have a look at our offer of former professional ships
