RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 23, 2022 6:53:42 GMT -7
I was planning to be at Mystic this week, but my family vacation plans just got derailed. I’ve been wanting to go for some time and have had nice chats with a former director about late 19th century small working boats.
No more extended family trips. 😑
I’ve been pulling together some info on colonial inshore and river craft that I hope to share soon. Sail rigs were going through some fascinating developments at the time.
My interest in working sail has really been centered around the late 19th century, so a dive into colonial types is proving interesting.
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Post by spence on Jul 23, 2022 7:48:41 GMT -7
I took my family on vacation to the Bahamas back in the 1970s, and we spent a week on Man O War Cay. After the AWI, loyalists from the coastal northeast migrated to the nearest British owned territory, the Bahamas, and many of those who settled on Man O War were from a boat building tradition. It still shows. I posted this before, but it's worth another word. Mangrove grows all around the island, and it has a tendency to grow in a naturally curved shape. They are cut and seasoned in the salt water, then used to make the ribs on a well known type of small sail boat built on the island, the Abaco dinghy. You can see the ribs in this neat little boat. We had one provided with our cabin, and spent a lot of fun time sailing it in the bay between the cay and Abaco Island.  Sort of a cat boat, I guess, with one large mainsail. I suspect it has features retained from the early days, built as the initial immigrants understood. Spence |
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Post by artificer on Jul 23, 2022 9:42:13 GMT -7
"Along the shores of the James River, visitors can see re-creations of the three ships that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607. They are the Susan Constant, Godspeed & Discovery." jyfmuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jamestown-Settlement-1607-ships.jpgTwice I've visited these ships and both times; the largest ship, the Susan Constant, was the only one they let visitors board. No doubt you may get the idea she is larger than she really is when looking at the photo. The Susan Constant is a surprisingly small ship and frankly I'm not sure I would have gone on her for a trans atlantic voyage, let alone her smaller sisters. jyfmuseums.org/jamestown-settlement/jamestown-ships/Gus |
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Post by spence on Jul 23, 2022 10:31:19 GMT -7
Another interesting site is Roanoke Island Festival Park. They have several colonial style boats and the Elizabeth II, a replica of a ship similar to those used in 1585 to bring the famous lost colony to this country. As you said, she is amazingly small. They used to have very educational tours aboard her, don't know if they still do.
Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 26, 2022 15:22:02 GMT -7
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Post by Richard on Jul 27, 2022 16:00:23 GMT -7
The Family has a week on the Outer Banks in August. I have never been to Jamestown! Have been to Roanoke Island for the "Lost Colony" play. Will try to make time to stop at both sites to see the ships.
Richard/Grumpa
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 29, 2022 9:44:54 GMT -7
Late 19th century type, but got the family on a traditional wood workboat for a sail. A “No Man’s Land Boat”.
I’d add pics, but something is wonky with the attachments upload…
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Post by brokennock on Jul 29, 2022 15:57:18 GMT -7
I think the Kalmar Nikel is back in Delaware. That is a really nice one if you get the chance to go see her. She used to be docked at the main wharf at Helltown, Mass. While we are there each summer. Haven't seen her in a couple years. They would run tours and some time under sail, anything from a couple hours to most of a day. The carving and artustry of design us fantastic.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 29, 2022 16:13:23 GMT -7
I’ve had contact with a fella that’s on the KN historic commission. They also have a shallop that has really captured my imagination.
After a few hours on the Cricket, I’ll definitely be building a historic workboat type. Maybe not colonial period, but as early as is practical for a trailered boat built in central Pennsylvania.
There used to be a sailing club near the Isle of Que in the Susquehanna near the mouth of Penns Creek on the Susquehanna. I’ve yet to find any info except for a single blurry photo from the late 19th century. Bateaux were very prevalent on the river in colonial times, and then there were the great timber rafts of the 1870s.
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Post by paranger on Jul 29, 2022 16:39:37 GMT -7
I have often thought that one of the old Cape May lifeguard rescue boats from when I was a kid (they are fiberglass now) would make a killer 18th c. whaleboat. Maybe a swivel gun mounted at the bow?
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Post by artificer on Jul 30, 2022 1:28:45 GMT -7
The Family has a week on the Outer Banks in August. I have never been to Jamestown! Have been to Roanoke Island for the "Lost Colony" play. Will try to make time to stop at both sites to see the ships. Richard/Grumpa Hi Richard, In case you don't know, there are TWO Jamestown attractions. One is the National Park, which is nice to visit especially if they have their glass works operating, BUT the three ships are at the nearby site linked below. They try to do something like Colonial Williamsburg, only for the 17th century. jyfmuseums.org/jamestown-settlement/The BEST time to visit the NPS site is on the annual "Founders Day" weekend held each year in May, as close as possible to the original landing day of May 13. They get a large number of 17th century reenactors and other things, that really enhances the trip. www.nps.gov/jame/index.htmGus |
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 31, 2022 10:17:15 GMT -7
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Post by spence on Jul 31, 2022 11:09:13 GMT -7
Beautiful children, and the boat's not bad.
Is that a centerboard trunk?
Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 31, 2022 11:31:21 GMT -7
It is! There was no natural harbor at No Man’s Land. These boats were launched and recovered on the beach. There were very small marine railways… timbers with rollers between… and oxen to drag the boats up. Sometimes in the original working boats the centerboard would be offset from the keel timber. The keel took the abuse and the centerboard opening, 2” higher than the keel, was less likely to be damaged or get clogged with sand and gravel.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 31, 2022 11:35:30 GMT -7
And thanks for complimenting the children. They’re lovely in every way, owing to Samantha’s loving touch and guidance for our family.
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