BCarp Posted August 1, 2014 Posted August 1, 2014 Biting the bullet, dipping into the retirement account, and buying a traditionally-built wooden sailing dinghy. The type is known as a "Catspaw" and here's a pic of one: It is 13' long, lapstrake construction, and has a spritsail rig. Just the thing to mess about in at 18th C. events and Pirate Fests...! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
Jas. Hook Posted August 1, 2014 Posted August 1, 2014 Wow, a really smart looker. The Long Island Maritime Museum has raffled a small hand-built rowing dinghy for the past several years. I haven't won yet... This year they switched to a wood kayak. BCarp, any info on who crafts this dinghy? "Born on an island, live on an island... the sea has always been in my blood." Jas. Hook "You can't direct the wind . . . but . . . you can adjust the sails." "Don't eat the chickens with writing on their beaks." Governor Sawney
BCarp Posted August 2, 2014 Author Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) Wow, a really smart looker. The Long Island Maritime Museum has raffled a small hand-built rowing dinghy for the past several years. I haven't won yet... This year they switched to a wood kayak. BCarp, any info on who crafts this dinghy? James, A number of folks around the country build them from a set of plans by Joel White. Here's a write up on the design: http://www.artisanboatworks.com/classic-designs/rowboats/catspaw-dinghy Mine was built by The Carpenters' Boat Shop in Pemaquid, Maine: http://carpentersboatshop.org/boats.html Edited August 2, 2014 by BCarp Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
BCarp Posted August 7, 2014 Author Posted August 7, 2014 Some pics of my actual boat. Driving up to Maine to pick it up next weekend. Huzzay..! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
Jas. Hook Posted August 8, 2014 Posted August 8, 2014 BCarp - Big time drool. Smooth sailing! "Born on an island, live on an island... the sea has always been in my blood." Jas. Hook "You can't direct the wind . . . but . . . you can adjust the sails." "Don't eat the chickens with writing on their beaks." Governor Sawney
Captain Jim Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 Beautiful. My occupational hazard bein' my occupation's just not around...
BCarp Posted August 12, 2014 Author Posted August 12, 2014 I'm even thinking of arming the little craft! I picture a stout post, the same diameter of the mast, that will drop into the mast-step in the forward thwart. Mounted on this post - a small swivel gun, or perhaps a blunderbuss on a swivel yoke. Won't that be fun...! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
BCarp Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) Have had the dinghy for about a month now. A sweet sailing and rowing little craft, by thunder! Took her to a reenactment event (not GAoP) this past weekend: Don't have a swivel for her yet. My "armament" was a bow gunner with a sea-service musketoon, sort of a super-sized blunderbuss. That thing barked...! Edited September 16, 2014 by BCarp Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
Littleneckhalfshell Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 You could make a yoke mount for the Musketoon that would fit the mast step, or you could also make up a wooden quaker swivel until you find a proper firing one! ;-) But you already have the hard part done, well ahead of most of us, YOU GOT A BOAT! No Fear Have Ye of Evil Curses says you... Aye,... Properly Warned Ye Be says I
Coastie04 Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 That bit of paint makes her really pop among the unfinished or plain varnished craft. Also, there's just something beautiful about a nice, squared off transom instead of the double enders. At least in my opinion! She was bigger and faster when under full sail With a gale on the beam and the seas o'er the rail
BCarp Posted September 17, 2014 Author Posted September 17, 2014 That bit of paint makes her really pop among the unfinished or plain varnished craft. Also, there's just something beautiful about a nice, squared off transom instead of the double enders. At least in my opinion! She's a lot like the smallest jolly boat used by the British navy in the early 1700's, not counting the centerboard (later they standardized, with the 18 ft. jolly boat being the smallest). A friend is going to sell me (or perhaps loan me long term) a small brass swivel about 16" long, and with a .75 caliber bore. Should be perfect...! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
Jas. Hook Posted September 17, 2014 Posted September 17, 2014 Neat! What more can you say. Jas. Hook "Born on an island, live on an island... the sea has always been in my blood." Jas. Hook "You can't direct the wind . . . but . . . you can adjust the sails." "Don't eat the chickens with writing on their beaks." Governor Sawney
Coastie04 Posted September 17, 2014 Posted September 17, 2014 Nice! Brass swivel though? Keep to the fresh water with it, or meticulously clean it! With that fancy boat, you could be the one ferrying the big wigs and officers ashore, while the rest of the masses uses 'ordinary' (but still good looking) boats... She was bigger and faster when under full sail With a gale on the beam and the seas o'er the rail
madPete Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Awesome craft! William! where is ours? LOL mP Aye... Plunder Awaits!
BCarp Posted November 16, 2014 Author Posted November 16, 2014 As built and fitted out, the boat is about 95% correct for 18th and early 19th C. reenactment and "living history" use. Being an authenticity nut, I want to effect some alterations ("retro-grades" if you will!) to make her more period correct. And, of course, she must have some armament! With that in mind (and because I'm still paying two - count 'em, 2! - college tuition bills each semester) I've started a GoFundMe campaign to get the boat in proper shape for next season: http://www.gofundme.com/18thCboat This is crassly self-serving, I know, but what the hell! You're like-minded folks, I figger.... Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
William Brand Posted November 16, 2014 Posted November 16, 2014 I love a good jolly-boat. Is she christened with a period name?
BCarp Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 (edited) I love a good jolly-boat. Is she christened with a period name? She is the "Felix" - or more specifically, the jolly-boat of the sloop-of-war "Felix" (or if it's a pirate event, the brigantine "Felix"). Wikipedia: Felix is a male given name and surname, stems from Latin (felix, felicis) and means "lucky", "favored by luck" or "the lucky one". Edited November 17, 2014 by BCarp Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
BCarp Posted May 26, 2015 Author Posted May 26, 2015 An updated image of "Felix", with swivel mounted and proper thole-pins in place. Ready for 18th C. events...! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
William Brand Posted May 26, 2015 Posted May 26, 2015 She's a fine boat. I'm jealous to no end. How did you decide on the colors?
BCarp Posted May 26, 2015 Author Posted May 26, 2015 She's a fine boat. I'm jealous to no end. How did you decide on the colors? The folks at the boat shop that built her made that decision! Carpie "You will be a brother to pirates and corsairs...."
Coastie04 Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 A beauty, for sure! She was bigger and faster when under full sail With a gale on the beam and the seas o'er the rail
 {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '1074427760321280'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); </script> <noscript><img height=)
&ev=PageView&cd%5Bitem_id%5D=19378&cd%5Bitem_name%5D=Soon+to+be+Afloat%21&cd%5Bitem_type%5D=topic&cd%5Bcategory_name%5D=Shipwright"/>
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now