Cutter

A cutter is a small single-masted boat, fore-and-aft rigged, with two or more headsails, often carried on a very long bowsprit, which is sometimes as long as half the length of the boat's hull. The mast may be set farther back than on a sloop. The rig gives the cutter excellent manoeuverability and they are much better at sailing to windward than a larger square rigged ship. Pilot cutters are widely used near ports to ferry harbor pilots to the big ships. Navies use cutters for coastal patrol, customs duties, escort, carrying personnel and dispatches and for small 'cutting out' raids.

As befits their size and intended role cutters are lightly armed, often with around six small cannon.