Buoyancy Lightening and Shallow Inlet Access: A 17th-Century Maritime Logistics Model for Oak Island Jerry Harrah Independent Researcher

This paper examines the practical maritime physics and logistics behind using cargo offloading to enable large wooden ships of the late 17th century to access shallow, restricted inlets. Using Oak Island, Nova Scotia as a case study, the paper demonstrates that deliberate lightening of vessels prior to inlet entry would have produced substantial draft reduction —often several feet-making controlled access not only possible but routine under period naval practices.