Pirate ships were all shapes and sizes. Here are three of the most common types (the sloop, the schooner, and the brigantine)

Pirate ships were usually fast, agile, and well armed. Merchant ships of the 1600's and 1700's were often slow and not well armed, making them easy prey for well armed and determined pirates.

Pirates would use almost any kind of ship that they could get their hands on but here are three of the most common pirate ships used in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and in the Caribbean:

SLOOP--The favorite little single masted boat of Caribbean and Atlantic pirates in the late 1600's. was fast, agile, and had a shallow draft. Thirty to sixty feet long with a top speed of over 10 knots, a crew of 20 to 70 pirates could easily make lightning attacks, avoid broadsides from cannons, and outrun pursuit.

In spite of weighing as much as 100 tons and having perhaps 15 cannons, its draft was amazingly shallow at eight feet. This allowed pirates to find safety in shallower waters far beyond any warship's range. The sloop is the forefather of modern day

SCHOONER--The was another favorite of the Caribbean and Atlantic pirates. It had many of the same features of the sloop such as speed, maneuverability, and gun capacity, with a narrower hull and a shallow draft of only 5 feet.

This meant she could easily remain in shallow coves waiting for her prey and take a large haul and a 75-man crew further inland to hide or to divide the booty.

BRIGANTINE--Originally called a brigantino, this shallow-draft, two-masted pirates ship had terrific maneuverability and speed. It was prized in the Mediterranean, where its earlier versions sometimes included oars that were better for light wind conditions.

Heavier, longer, and roomier than the smaller sloops and schooners, was usually first choice for prolonged battles instead of quick hits. 70-80 feet in length, 125-150 tons, 100+ men, with 12 guns.

Hey Mimi, our dad took our mom on a cruise. He said it was a pirate ship cruise but I've seen the pictures and that wasn't any pirate ship! Do you want to see them?

Some of the famous pirates who sailed these ships were:

(Edward Teach)

Black Bart

Henry Every (Avery)

Henry Morgan

Calico Jack (Jack Rackham)

Barbarossa (meaning Red Beard) the nickname of Khair ad Din

Captain Kidd

This is Cap'n Peg-Leg, the pirate pooch, Chico Chihuahua's long lost cousin who went to sea on a pirate sloop called the Bonny Anne.

Peg-Leg has an assignment for you. He says that there were famous women pirates too!

See if you can find out the names and a little information about two and their pirate ships and report it to your parents and teacher!

Heave to and be quick about it, me hearty!