Peapod (boat)
Open-knowledge reference entry
A peapod is a type of small boat traditionally used for nearshore lobstering in Maine, United States. It is a double-ended rowboat usually made of wood. Today they are mainly used as pleasure boats.
Origin, history, and use
Peapods were developed in Maine for lobstering. U.S. government reports from the 19th century record that the peapod was developed on the island of North Haven about 1870. However, Eric Dow, a Maine boat builder, disputed that the peapod's origin could be traced to any particular place in Maine. They were originally known as "double-enders." The peapod's shallow draft enabled navigation of rocky Maine waters where larger boats could not go. Peapods were commonly rowed from a forward-facing standing position.
The peapod's easy maneuverability also made it a favorite among lighthouse keepers.
James "Jimmy" Steele was a well-known builder of peapods.
The public source identifies “Peapod (boat)” as open-knowledge reference entry. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Peapod, boat and Open-knowledge.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Peapod (boat)”, the useful work is to connect “open-knowledge reference entry” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Oct 12, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q104856480. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1870.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Peapod (boat)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Peapod (boat) primary sources, Peapod (boat) archive and Peapod research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Peapod (boat)”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Peapod (boat)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.