Shipwright
Of Wooden Ships & Sailing, Construction, Maintenance, Repair & Rescue.
277 topics in this forum
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- 10 replies
- 2.6k views
folks, i'm very happy to announce that CSF is far enough on Luna to start thinking about the helm station. What we have is a modern ship rebuilt to 18th century appearance, with modern helm equipment. Here is where we would like your help and input. Send us pictures of forward facing center pedestal wheels on wooden sailing ships. Also, what do you use most often and what do you wish you had for a helm configuration for a similar project. Remember this is an open boat, so fancy electronics are not going to be there. Were talking a compass, controls, and a wheel. I'll try to get a picture up this weekend.
Last reply by Dutchman, -
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
The Edmund Fitzgerald went down with all hands 30 years ago tonight. The iron ore tanker lost its race against one of the November storms that Lake Superior is famous for. All 29 crew members went with her to the bottom. I"m sure most people know the story from the Gordon Lightfoot song. There's a new book by Michael Schumacher about the event. Here's a link to a show that aired this morning on Minnesota Public Radio (though this link may not work after today)
Last reply by BriarRose Kildare, -
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I am doing some research for my next article and I was hoping to enlist the help of some experts and maybe start an interesting topic. The question, then: What were some of the largest pirate ships that we know of and how many decks did they have?
Last reply by Dread Pyrate Greyhound, -
- 9 replies
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News Article It's an interesting find. There is speculation that it's not just from an old fishing schooner, but an even older vessel due to the curve of the hull. However, that's obviously speculation at this point. It would be exciting if more information could be discovered, or if more parts would wash up nearby. From what I can see in this one photo, it could easily be part of a schooner. One thing that would definitely help age the wreck is whether those pegs on the ribs are metal or wood. I'm not sure if they used wood ones in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, but if they're metal, then it's definitely not from the 16th Century. Coastie
Last reply by captken, -
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Please tell me which kind of a ship (and about which approximative dimensions/ tonnage) could have been a little smugglers' ship (in early 1700s) which could be sailed in 2-3 men? 50 tons? more? less? and what kind? One-masted sloop? Pinnace? Something else?
Last reply by Elena, -
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I had always read that ships were careened by essentially running them aground in soft sandy areas, then heaving it over on it's side with rope & tackle, often via trees on the shore. Recently I read in Philip Ashton's account (the kid who was taken by Low in Newfoundland) that while in the West Indies, Low lost his flagship while attempting to careen it thus: He ordered everyone into the yards to tip the ship on it's side, but the mast/yards stuck in the bottom of the harbor, essentially pinning the ship upside down, after which it broke apart and sunk. So I'm guessing this wasn't the wisest way to go about cleaning the ship's bottom. NOW, I'm reading Dampier's Voya…
Last reply by Wartooth, -
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While at the Wayne public library, I was looking for cd's to burn, and this book was at an end display, so I picked it up. it covers a lot in detail of the ships, crew, battles, attack techniques, weapons, repairing, diet, etc. Typical British seaman, c. 1770 The Weather Gauge...as quoted in master & Commander a couple of times Two types of melee Rations So on & so forth
Last reply by hurricane, -
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When the USS United States captured the HMS Macedonian during the War of 1812, the chagrined British commander reported that the American vessel had "howitzers in her tops." That rather amazed me. I think of howitzers as being very heavy guns. How could the mast stand up to the weight and recoil of a large gun being fired on the top? How big of a howitzer would they put up there? And, most importantly, was this done during the Golden Age of Piracy?
Last reply by Dread Pyrate Greyhound, -
- 9 replies
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Deep-Sea Explorers Discover Possible Richest Shipwreck Treasure in History Friday , May 18, 2007 AP TAMPA, Fla. — Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated value: $500 million. A jet chartered by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration landed in the United States recently with hundreds of plastic containers brimming with coins raised from the ocean floor, Odyssey co-chairman Greg Stemm said. The more than 500,000 pieces are expected to fetch an average of $1,000 each from collectors and inv…
Last reply by Phillip Black, -
For those of you who don't know, I build scale models. Built the first one at age 4 and been at it 38 years now. I build for museums, private collectors and technical companies. I really want to build a modle of a true pirate schoner or sloop but plans are like hens teeth. I found a third generation copy of a Schooner "three view" set in a book but the enlargement is grainy at best. None of my usual plan companies are of any help. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by scurvy_morgan, -
- 8 replies
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Avast! Here be a fine ship being build, it be far away, overhere in the Netherlands, but this be a good place to follow the progression. Aye, a fine ship she be, we's proud to have it being build right in the place it originates: Delfshaven. If ye ever comes to Holland, be shure to check it out, it be in Rotterdam! 18th Century ship "De Delft"
Last reply by Red Cat Jenny, -
- 8 replies
- 750 views
I be trying to get into next years volunteer list for the only true tall ship in the Houston/Galveston area. Thought I'd post the info on the ship here. The Elissa If only the Royalist woould want to come play in warmer waters. Here be her Specs
Last reply by endkaos, -
- 8 replies
- 1.7k views
There really isn't a forum dedicated to just watercraft, so I thought I'd try asking here, as well as in the thread in Crowsnest. I have a feller wants to trade a boat for some welding. I really don't need anymore projects right now, but this looks like a solid craft. It is a McKenzie Drift Boat, these were developed in the 1940's for drift-fishing the whitewater of the McKenzie river. They're getting more popular here in Missouri among the trout anglers on our swift rivers. I don't know enough about hull design to decide if I can make her sail without some massive leeboards. I don't have a photo, but did some search on-line and found the general history and specifi…
Last reply by D B Couper, -
- 8 replies
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During the course of it's sailing life a ship would no doubt need replacements of rigging and sail.. is there one or more areas where these were produced and purchased or traded for? Where did one go for the materials?
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 8 replies
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-When ship hull copper plating was used? If my memory serves me right there is plating on cutty shark’s hull and (I am not completely sure) HMS Victory’s hull, but how old copper hull plating is?
Last reply by Commodore Swab, -
- 8 replies
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I was fortunate to receive some valuable answers the last time I posted a question in this forum, so I thought I'd try my luck again. I'm embarking on a new project, a fictional account of a brig returning from England to its home port in Rhode Island in the 1760s. I have the story itself worked out. But I've run aground on the details. The truth is, I have very little nautical knowledge, especially as it relates to the mid-18th century. I'm wondering if anyone here can recommend books or any other source material that I might use to familiarize myself with life at sea during the 1760s or thereabouts. I'm interested to know the layout of such a ship (brig), naut…
Last reply by the Royaliste, -
- 8 replies
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I stumbled across this rental site of interest. Even if you're not in the market the photos are great. http://www.privateermedia.com/Boats/boats.htm Jas. Hook
Last reply by Jas. Hook, -
- 8 replies
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Captain Kidd's Adventure Galley, brand spanking new out of Deptford, was so leaky that he had to abandon her in Madagascar in 1698. In 1612, Thomas Best's Red Dragon, only a couple of weeks out of port and in calm weather, broke her main yard. Examination showed that the yard was made out of hemlock and was rotten, "which sheweth the badnes of the tree, the want of care in Mr. Burrell [the "great shipbuilder of the day"] and of honestie or skill in Chanlar." During the 1620-21 expedition to Algiers, the English vice-admiral wrote that of his six royal ships, three were completely unfit for sea, "being very laboursome and unable to carry out their lower tier of ordnance…
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 8 replies
- 10.6k views
I need some historical information, and the knowledgeable people here seem to be the ones to ask. I need to know what would be the minimum crew needed to sail and fight with a 10 gun Bermuda sloop. Also, info on the specific make-up of the crew members would be very useful. Thanks
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 8 replies
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Does any mate know of any periodical devoted to historic nautical matters? Something that would concentrate on the great age of sail, and discuss shipbuilding and battles, navigation, sailor's dress, weaponry and battle tactics, piracy and privateering, nautical skills and crafts, etc. I'm not interested in how-to-do-it publications for yachtsmen, sentimental stories about contemporary declining fishing communities, or How I Won First Prize for My Dashing Captain LeBloodie Pirate Costume; but things that will help me understand the age of sail, and help me be a better, more authentic reenactor. Any thoughts? Capt. William
Last reply by Red Maria, -
- 8 replies
- 747 views
This is a list of the tallships that I have visited so far. Mayflower Zodiac R. Tucker Thompson Nina Europa Bat'kivshchyna Constitution Wolf Compass Rose
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 8 replies
- 563 views
Does anyone have a good resource for information on how ships in the late 17th/early 18th century signaled each other? Much obliged, mates.
Last reply by dasNdanger, -
- 7 replies
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Hey I have one of these in my yard! During the age of sail, the White Pine’s high quality wood was valued for masts, many trees were marked in colonial times with the broad arrow, reserving them for the British Royal Navy. An unusual large, lone, white pine was found, in coastal South Carolina along the Black River (far from where they normally grow) and the king's mark was put upon this particular tree, giving rise to the town of Kingstree. The wood was often squared immediately after felling to fit in the holds of ships better The British soon built special barge-like vessels which could carry up to 50 pine trunks destined to be ship masts. A 100’ mast was about 3’X3…
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 7 replies
- 783 views
The Coast Guard's Eagle The Eagle is a three-masted sailing Barque with 21,350 square feet of sail. It is homeported at the CG Academy, New London, Connecticut. It is the only active (operational) commissioned sailing vessel in the U.S. maritime services. (One of five such Training Barques in world. Sister ships include: MIRCEA of Romania, SAGRES II of Portugal, GORCH FOCK of Germany, and TOVARICH of Russia.) The Eagle bears a name that goes back to the early history of the United States' oldest contiunous seagoing service. The first Eagle was commissioned in 1792, just two years after the formation of the Revenue Marine, the forerunner of today's Coast Guard. Today'…
Last reply by Captain Jim-sib, -
- 7 replies
- 2.3k views
I'm curious as to the length of time sailors generally planned for when traveling between the Old World and the colonies as well as between the colonies themselves. I know it would not be exact but a rough estimate would be of interest. Example: roughly how many days travel between Boston and Port Royal.
Last reply by jendobyns,
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