Evolution of Shipbuilding in Southeastern Massachusetts

Abstract

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Lobbies and Technology Diffusion

“…From the beginning of the shipbuilding industry through at least when steam ships were invented, it required a high sunk cost to begin producing sailing ships. Huffington and Clifford [1939] describe the many restrictions on a yard' s location, which put a high price on the production of sailing ships that was incurred even before the yard is built. To keep the costs of transportation down, they explain that shipyards needed to be located on a river or estuary, allowing ships to be built "without fear of wreck" (Huffington and Clifford [1939] p.363).…”

“…Huffington and Clifford [1939] describe the many restrictions on a yard' s location, which put a high price on the production of sailing ships that was incurred even before the yard is built. To keep the costs of transportation down, they explain that shipyards needed to be located on a river or estuary, allowing ships to be built "without fear of wreck" (Huffington and Clifford [1939] p.363). At the same time, however, the yards needed to be close to bog ore and forge sites, which provided iron for ship fittings, and forests abundant in oak and pine, which provided wood for the hulls and masts.…”

“…Huffington and Clifford also explain that, by 1815, timber supplies near the shipyards were exhausted, forcing builders to purchase timber located further and further away and incur substantial transportation costs. In one instance, "It was necessary for a certain builder to purchase an entire woodlot, located some twenty miles inland, in order to get a single tree suitable for the forming of 'knees"' (Huffington and Clifford [1939] p.368).…”