Severn Trow - Severn trows were wooden hulled boats with a shallow draft. The flat bottom permitted safe grounding at low tide to assist loading or unloading cargoes when not at a harbour or dockside. They were sailing vessels, later supplemented with engines, and had space for cargo on deck as well as their 'open' hold. Normally sailing only coastal waters on river and estuary they were limited to trading the small ports and beaches down-channel as far as Barry on the Welsh cost and Bridgewater on the English side. They were workhorses, shipping small loads before the advent of rail or road transportation systems.

West Country Ketch - Ketches, being larger than trows, sailed further afield than the trows; some traded with Ireland whilst others braved the seas of the northern Atlantic Ocean to reach Newfoundland.