Smack (ship)

A smack is a traditional fishing boat, historically used in the North Sea and English Channel. The term refers to a vessel specifically designed for line fishing, and particularly associated with the practice of keeping the catch alive in a "well" – a compartment in the hull with holes to allow seawater to circulate. This feature allowed the fish to be brought to market alive and fresh, commanding a higher price.

Smacks were typically cutter-rigged or ketch-rigged sailing vessels, enabling them to be maneuverable and seaworthy in often challenging conditions. They varied in size, but were generally smaller than trawlers, and crewed by a relatively small number of experienced fishermen.

The rise of steam-powered trawlers and other more efficient fishing methods in the late 19th and early 20th centuries gradually led to the decline in the use of smacks for commercial fishing. However, some were converted for other purposes, such as pleasure sailing or cargo transport, and a few have been preserved as historic vessels. The term "smack" can also be used more generally to refer to a small coastal trading vessel, although the fishing smack is the more widely recognized usage.