The History of the Gundalow with Rich Clyborne

A gundalow is a shallow drafted type of cargo barge, once common in the Gulf of Maine’s rivers and estuaries. Built from wood lot timber, by saltwater farmers, fishermen, and traders, no two gundalows were alike.

Gundalows were the equivalent of today’s tractor-trailer rigs, sometimes measuring over 70 feet long and 19 feet wide. They could navigate shallow rivers, carrying freight of up to 50 tons between ocean-going schooners and the growing towns of the Piscataqua region.

Today, the Gundalow Company of Portsmouth operates the world’s only Piscataqua gundalow, a replica vessel launched in 2011. Come hear the history of these unique vessels and their role in shaping the Seacoast’s maritime heritage.