Batavia Longboat – Life-Size Replica

This full-sized replica of the Batavia’s longboat shows just how vital these small boats were to life at sea in the 1600s. Moored here on the water outside the Geraldton Museum, it brings to life the scale and structure of a vessel that once bustled with activity.

The longboat was a workhorse of the Batavia fleet. Without docks in many places, it was used to transport people, supplies and cargo to and from shore. But it also had a clever role in helping the Batavia escape shallow waters through a technique called kedging.

Here’s how it worked: the longboat carried a heavy anchor far out in front of the ship, then dropped it. The ship’s crew would use a giant capstan (a turning winch) to haul themselves forward, inching the Batavia into deeper water. This was repeated again and again, slow but effective!

Standing beside it today, you can imagine the strength and teamwork needed to row and operate this essential piece of maritime technology.