The whaling industry required many supporting industries which supplied materials, tools, food, and other products necessary to make a whaleship work. These skilled craftsmen or “mechanics” included blacksmiths, coopers, rope makers, sailmakers, and shipwrights. Without these tradespeople, the whaleships would not have even made it out of port!
Blacksmiths: A craftsman who forges products made out of iron. Blacksmiths in New Bedford made nails, hooks, harpoon irons (the iron tip of the harpoon), and tools necessary to build and maintain whaleships and to be used during voyages.
Caulkers: These craftsmen filled in seams and gaps on the whaleships to make the vessels watertight. They utilized a cotton yarn or string to seal the vessels. This step was pivotal in ensuring that a maritime vessels would not take on water during a voyage.
Coopers: A maker or repairer of casks and barrels. The work of the cooper was extremely important. They provided the casks and barrels which were used to store whale products, food, and other supplies below deck.
Ropemakers: A skilled craftsmen who creates rope. The rope made by these individuals was used in the rigging on a whaleship to raise and lower the sails, on and offload product, and raise and lower the whaleboats.
Sailmakers: A person who makes, alters, or repairs sails. Most whaling vessels that left New Bedford between the late seventeenth and early twentieth centuries were sailing vessels. The work of a sailmaker was pivotal in providing the necessary sails that allowed whaleships to travel. A sailmaker worked in a sail loft.
Ship Chandlers: A dealer in supplies and equipment for ships. These businessmen sold everything from clothing, stationary, chests, soaps, and other necessities to whalers. One of the first places a prospective seamen visited was the chandlery where he acquired all of the tools and materials necessary for embarking on a whaling voyage.
Shipwrights: A carpenter skilled at building and repairing ships. Shipwrights in New Bedford built most of the whaleships that called this port home.
