The gilded felucca and Maltese boatbuilding techniques

Abstract

The felucca was a very versatile, small, fast vessel which roamed all over the Mediterranean since the beginning of the 16th century but was seen round Maltese waters a century later. It was employed with the galley squadron of the Order of St John on various operations. The highly decorated and gilded felucca was the ceremonial vessel mainly reserved for use by the general of the galley squadron and it showed close affinities with Maltese boat building techniques. Comparing the two typologies of techniques might help to solve the question as to which one of the two copied from the other. The model of the gilded felucca, which is exhibited at the Malta Maritime Museum provided first hand information for this study. The passenger and cargo carrying felucca remained quite popular with Sicilian and Neapolitan masters up to the 20th century but disappeared from Maltese waters early in the previous century.