Jean Boudriot is an exceptional Frenchman. Originally an architect, he is an outstanding draughtsman and in only a few years' time became the first specialist in 17th and 18th century naval architecture. He was first interested in the study of French statutory arms, on which he published four books that were accepted as authorities. In 1960, he moved on to studying naval archeology.
J. Boudriot's first studies on naval guns, published in 1969 in Neptunia, are true revelations for amateurs. Between 1973 and 1977, he published the four volumes of "The 74 GUN SHIP" thus creating the Boudriot myth. Since then, he has dedicated his time to scouring the archives in Paris in winter, and to drawing in Charente in summer. For our utmost pleasure, Jean Boudriot regularly publishes the monographs and historical studies that constitute the French Naval Archeology Collection.
Boudriot is both an author and a publisher. He also teaches the weekly naval archeology seminar that takes place in the Musée de la Marine, and gives numerous lectures, most of them in the Sorbonne. He is a talented speaker and hearing him speak on his topic is an enchanting event.

While the shape of things to come is not set at the beginning of the book, principles are well established there. Boudriot started with primary sources by systematically studying models in the arsenals and by doing daily archival research in every harbour in France. He neglected nothing : neither the theoretical contributions brought by such authors as Duhamel du Monceau, Romme, Bouguer or Vial du Clairbois, nor the valuable iconographic documents provided by such draughtmen as Puget, Ozanne, Vernet, Guéroult du Pas and Sponsky de Passebon, etc. But the practical drawing booknotes of anonymous engineers, the more modest wood estimates by master carpenters or the inventories of a warehouse were even more important.
Only the irrefutable document is to be taken into account : engineers' plans, construction, equipping and campaigning estimates; correspondence and manuscripts of the time.
Because of his talent as a draughtman and because of his architect's training, Jean Boudriot is convinced that naval archeology - because it is a restitution of the past - can only be approached through drawing, the only true means of expression and understanding it. His rigorous and magical lines, with their lively and familiar style, immerse the reader in the atmosphere of the 17th, 18th and 19th ports and ship building sites throughout his numerous books.

As the main naval war machine at the end of the 18th century, the 74 Gun Ship was the result of a compromise, like every successful vessel. Her balance between strong guns and manoeuvrability offered by the 28 gun lower gundeck and firing 36 pound cannon-balls, made the "74" the perfect ship of the line. Since she moved more easily, she was much more useful in combat than the heavy 100 gun three-decker.
Her hull alone represented half of 3000 tons moving. 2800 hundred-year-old oak trees (a whole forest), and 600 tons of iron and wood bolts were needed for her construction. The hold and its orlop-deck could contain victuals for 6 months and water for 12 weeks. The gundeck had to bear the considerable weight of enormous 36-pdr guns, weighing 4 tons each. The upper deck, covered front and back with castles, carried lighter guns.
This hull rose 7 meters above water and carried prodigious flights of sails. Each of the three masts, in three elements, rigged three floors of square sails and the main top-mast truck towered at 60 meters. This ship was well designed by her engineer and when correctly used by her crew, she performed superbly at sea in all weathers. In a fair breeze, she could exceed ten knots by sailing quartering.