Cook's flagship on his second and
third Pacific voyages, Resolution was a sturdy "Whitby Cat"
built for hauling coal. Small but roomy, maneuverable, shallow drafted, such
ships were well suited for explorations. This ship was 462 tons burden, 110' in
hull length, 31' in breadth, and armed with 12 four-pounder cannon and 12
swivel guns. Shoddy refitting at the Navy Yard resulted in failures and leaking
that plagued the third voyage. When a rotten foremast gave way, cook was forced
to return to Kealakekua Bay, where he met his death.
Page 83, Voyagers
Link to on-line publication of Ancient
Hawai'i
