How to Draw the Mayflower
Step by Step

How to Draw the Mayflower Step by Step

Here are all 14 steps in one picture. Follow along below for each step in detail.

Step 1: Draw the Waterline

Start about one-quarter of the way up from the bottom of your paper. Draw a gentle wavy line all the way across. Keep the waves small, because the ship will sit on top of this line.

Step 2: Draw the Hull

The hull is the body of the ship. Draw a long line just above the water that rises a little toward the right. On the left, add a small step and a curved line down to the water. This is the front of the ship, called the bow. On the right, draw a slanted line from the top of the hull down to the water.

Step 3: Add the Raised Stern

Ships like the Mayflower had a tall back section called the stern. Starting about two-thirds of the way along the hull, draw a short curved line going up. Then draw a straight line slanting up to the right, and close it with a line down to the corner of the hull.

Step 4: Draw the Three Masts and the Bowsprit

The masts are the tall poles that hold the sails. Draw each one with two thin lines close together.

• The front mast (foremast) leans slightly to the left.
• The middle mast (mainmast) is the tallest and stands straight up.
• The back mast (mizzen) is the shortest and sits on the raised stern.

At the very front, draw a pole slanting out over the water. This is the bowsprit.

Step 5: Add the Yards (Cross Beams)

Yards are the wooden beams that go across the masts. Draw two thin rectangles across the front mast and two across the middle mast, one near the top and one in the middle. On the back mast, draw one long beam on a slant. Add two small beams across the bowsprit.

Step 6: Draw the Mainmast Sails

Hang a sail from each yard on the middle mast. Instead of straight sides, draw curvy “S”-shaped lines that bulge outward. The top sail goes from the top yard down to the middle yard. The bottom sail goes from the middle yard down to the deck.

Step 7: Add the Foremast Sails and Spritsail

Draw the front mast’s sails the same way as in Step 6, with curvy sides. They are a little smaller than the middle sails. Then add a small sail under the bowsprit. This little front sail is called a spritsail, and the real Mayflower had one.

Step 8: Shape the Billowing Sails

Draw a curved line across the top of each lower sail, like a rainbow shape just under the yard. Then add a curved line near the bottom of each lower sail. These simple curves make the sails look round and puffed up.

Step 9: Draw the Triangular Mizzen Sail

The back mast has a different kind of sail. Use the slanted beam from Step 5 as one side of a triangle. Draw the other side curving down to the back of the ship, then close the bottom with a gently curved line.

Step 10: Add the Rigging Ropes and Flags

Ropes, called rigging, hold the masts steady. Draw a straight line from the end of the bowsprit up to the front mast. Draw another from the front mast to the top of the middle mast, and one from the middle mast down to the back mast. Finish with a small wavy flag on top of the front and middle masts.

Step 11: Draw the Portholes and Windows

Draw four small squares in a row along the middle of the hull. On the raised stern, draw four little circles and one small square window.

Step 12: Draw the Ocean Waves

Under the ship, draw two or three rows of short wavy lines. Leave small gaps between them so the water looks like it’s moving.

Step 13: Add the Sun, Clouds and Seagulls

Draw a circle with short lines around it in the top-left corner for the sun. Add two puffy clouds on the right and a small one on the left. For the seagulls, draw little curved “V” shapes.

Step 14: Your Mayflower Drawing Is Done!

Go over your pencil lines with a black marker. Wait a minute for the ink to dry, then erase any pencil lines that still show. Now your Mayflower is ready to color.

How to Color the Mayflower

The real Mayflower was a wooden ship, so earthy colors look best. Here’s a simple color guide:

Coloring tip: Press lightly with colored pencils first, then add a second layer on the bottom of each sail and under the hull. This adds shadows and makes the ship look 3D.

Easy Version for Little Kids

Drawing the Mayflower with a preschooler or kindergartner? Try these shortcuts:

• Stop at Step 10. The ship with sails, ropes and flags is already a complete drawing.
• Skip Step 8. The sails still look great without the extra curves.
• Use straight sails. If curvy sides are tricky, draw rectangles instead.
• Print the coloring page from the PDF below and let them color the finished ship.

Mayflower Facts for Kids

While you color, here are some fun facts about the real ship:

• The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620.
• It carried 102 passengers and about 25 to 30 crew members.
• The trip across the Atlantic Ocean took about 66 days.
• The ship reached Cape Cod, in what is now Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620. Some books say November 11, because England used an older calendar back then.
• The Mayflower was about 100 feet long and had three masts, just like your drawing.
• In 1621, the Pilgrims shared a harvest feast with about 90 Wampanoag people. This meal is remembered as the first Thanksgiving.
• A full-size copy of the ship, called the Mayflower II, can be visited today in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Tips for Teachers

This tutorial works well as a directed drawing lesson for grades 1 to 5.

• Time: Plan 30 to 45 minutes for drawing and coloring.
• Before drawing: Spend five minutes on the Mayflower facts above, or read a short picture book about the Pilgrims’ journey.
• During the lesson: Draw each step on the board while students follow. Point out the red lines in each picture, because those are the only new lines in that step.
• Vocabulary to teach: hull, bow, stern, mast, sail, rigging, porthole.
• Extend the lesson: Ask students to write two or three sentences about what life on the ship might have been like during the 66-day voyage.
• Display idea: Paint a watercolor sea and sky first, let it dry, then glue the cut-out ship on top.

More Thanksgiving Drawings

Keep drawing with these easy tutorials:

• How to Draw a Turkey

FAQ

Is the Mayflower easy to draw?

Yes. The Mayflower is mostly made of straight lines and simple curves. This tutorial breaks it into 14 small steps, and each step only adds a few new lines. Younger kids can stop at Step 10 for an easier version.

How many masts did the Mayflower have?

The Mayflower had three masts: the foremast at the front, the mainmast in the middle, and the mizzen mast at the back. It also had a slanted pole at the front called a bowsprit, which held a small sail.

What colors should I use for the Mayflower?

Use brown for the wooden hull and masts, cream or white for the sails, and blue for the ocean and sky. Red and white work well for the flags. See the full color guide above.

How long does it take to draw the Mayflower?

Most kids finish the drawing in 20 to 30 minutes. Coloring takes another 10 to 15 minutes.

Can I print this Mayflower drawing for my class?

Yes. The free printable PDF includes all 14 steps and a coloring page. You can print it for home or classroom use.

What age is this Mayflower drawing for?

It’s best for ages 6 and up. Kids aged 4 to 5 can do the easy version with a grown-up’s help, or color the printable coloring page.