MEDDO

Truly an inspiration. Upon my return to the forums was sad to hear of Augie's passing. Very glad you had the opportunity to honor him by completing this build.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Truly an inspiration. Upon my return to the forums was sad to hear of Augie's passing. Very glad you had the opportunity to honor him by completing this build.

Truly an inspiration. Upon my return to the forums was sad to hear of Augie's passing. Very glad you had the opportunity to honor him by completing this build.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Got a little more work done in the shipyard today.  Finished up the grate for the after hatch and the stair ladder for the forward hatch.  I installed the hatch coamings and the grate and the stair ladder.  I still need to apply some wipe on poly finish.  Next up is the top sail bitt.  I also need to make some rope and rig up the guns.  Enjoy the pics and any and all comments/critiques are welcome.

Love the Skipjacks.  Can't wait to follow your progress.

Skipjack Kathryn
 
 
 
Part 1 – Background
 
 
 
I’ve always liked the lines of the Skipjack oyster dredging craft from the Chesapeake Bay.  A couple of years ago I found drawings of the Skipjack Kathryn on the HAER website, and thought this would be an interesting build. 
 
 
Kathryn was built at Crisfield, Maryland in 1901.  Kathryn is fairly large for a Skipjack, measuring 50 feet long and 16 feet 8 inches wide.  The HAER documentation includes the information that was provided for the nomination of Kathryn as a National Historic Landmark, and indicates that Kathryn is the oldest of the true “skipjacks” - the two-sail bateau built expressly for the oyster trade.
 
 
Kathryn’s hull is a modification of the standard hard chine skipjack design.  The hull has the same general form as the standard skipjack with a sharp convex bow, beamy midsection, and counter stern.  The difference is that Kathryn is planked fore-and-aft with a rounded chine rather than having a hard chine and being planked athwartships in a herring-bone pattern.  Only a small number of skipjacks have been identified with the same construction – the Susan May (1901) and Maggie Lee (1903) among them.  Kathryn carries the traditional Chesapeake longhead or clipper bow with a straight raking stem.
 
 

 
Kathryn underwent a major rebuild in 1954, which included the deck and siding, but retained her original form and many of her original oak timbers.  The HAER documentation was recorded as Kathryn existed in 1995.  Some modifications had been made to Kathryn’s outward appearance, mainly the addition of a ‘doghouse’ or companionway above the main cabin, and the replacement of the forepeak hatch with one of a lower profile.
 
 
In 2011 Kathryn struck a buoy during the annual skipjack race off Deal Island, Maryland.  “Stoney” Whitelock, the current owner and captain, said “When I hit that buoy, that was no big deal, but I found out there was no nails holding the planks onto some of the frames, they were eaten away.  Almost all of the frames at some point were rotten.”
 
 
A major construction project was launched to rebuild Kathryn, starting in 2011 under the guidance of Mike Vlahovich – a master shipwright and founding director of the Coastal Heritage Alliance.  The project was funded through grants and private donations, and much of the reconstruction work was performed by volunteers.
 
 
Kathryn was relaunched during the end of September 2015, and worked the 2015 oyster season.  I was able to spend a short time on board Kathryn during October 2015 as she was docked at Deal Island before the oystering season.
 
 

Bug,
 
I really can't add to what the others have except you deserve every comment, kudo, and "like".  Well done, I tip my hat and raise a toast to you and another to Augie's memory.

Thank you so much for the likes, and especially comments everyone!  I'm quite overwhelmed and humbled at the responses - truly.
 

Very nice birthday present.

Very nice birthday present.

Very nice birthday present.

Very nice birthday present.

I think I would also like to see a POF model of e.g. a British or French 6th Rate in a reasonable scale (1/64 or 1/48) available to buy in 3 "Modules": Bow, Midships and Stern. I'd suggest each section be similar in size and each module could be bought for sub $200, so that the work could be phased and planned to suit building a model of reasonable size. That way one could build a 28 gun Frigate without the masses of space required (for example a dedicated room/garage/hobby shop) and tools to build a a full POF model.
 
This would also allow each model to be sold by the manufacturer individually or as a bundle with a slight reduction in price, for example $200 each or $550 for "Modules A, B, & C".
 
Just a thought.... 

The 18-gun, flush-decked American ship-corvettes of 1812 are sadly ignored : the Wasp 1806, Hornet 1807, Wasp 1813, Peacock 1813, and Frolick 1813. 
 
Everything is on one deck, the carvings are at a minimum, and they are extremely well documented.

Getting there,
Now it's time to get the bowsprit installed and doing the final part of rigging.
Some paint touch up and then give it to my Admiral. It was her birthday last Friday. Couple of days late, but still.

Work on the entire foremast continues.  Spars all mostly roughed out to the right length and tapered.  Need to detail them out now.
 
Anchor also made.   I was planning I painting the copper black as is authentic... but leaving it shiny is starting to grow on me.  Haven't decided yet which way to go.
 
Yes... I know  Yards are all ahoo.  (Reading too much Patrick OBrien :-).  Picking up Jacks vocabulary)
 
Oh yeah,  Gotta start working on the figurehead.
 
Just ordered a bunch of stuff ( lots of  tiny  blocks, dead eyes  and string) from Model Expo so I can move on to rigging very soon. 
 
I'm tempted (probably won't  .. but thinking about it.. This might be a good model to rig sails on.  Hmmm.. Do I really want to do that?  
I know its my model, my choice...  BUT What would you do??? Anyone? 

Still plodding along ...
 
The seats have been completed, although I have held off gluing the seats forward of the windlass until later. I still have the locker hinges to install as well as the reinforcing knees.
 
I followed BobF's build with regards the windlass and also the davit (see pg 6 of his log). Instead of actually installing the davit, or BobF's hole and pin, I decided that a 'plug' would have been installed over the hole - this explains the little rectangular cutout on the stern decking. I'm guessing that something would have covered the hole ... just to stop someone twisting their ankle. I also adopted BobF's windlass design ... which I think he found in some books. On one side, there is a basic hole for the windlass while the other side has an elongated hole that allows the windlass to be 'twisted' out and removed. Since the load comes from over the stern, I elongated the hole forward rather that aft - I think this makes the most sense. I'm currently looking at the stern with a view to notching it with some reinforcing.
 
Also, my own manufacture of two tools! The first just a blade installed in an offcut of wood for trimming - seems to get used all the time. The second a nail cut down to be used as a mortise (as used on the windlass).
 
I'm really enjoying this build ... it gets put away for a week or two and then pulled out for a pleasurable afternoon. I'm enjoying it so much that I have just order another kit ... sticking with Chuck's designs, the next one will be the Syren.
 
 

Thanks so much Rich, Albert and Elijah for the generous comments and also the "likes".
 
Rich, at my age talent diminishes and needs to be replaced by increased effort and perseverance. 
 
Bob

Hello everyone.
Decided to slightly update my work.
 
I made Tree nails for frames
.
 
Clean all the paper. And recommendation of using Fixo gum glue had perfect. 
 

 

 
Before assembling cut out recess for gun ports.
 

 
And finally start assembling frames.

 

 
I slightly redesigned Gun port sill. To create more stringent joint.
 

 

 
At the moment it would all. 
But to be continued.

Bug, what a great tribute to a great Model Shipwright.  You did an amazing job.  Now that it is finished I think Augie can finally hang his Moose on the wall.  Those that were part of that banter a few years ago will know what I mean here.  That was quite an honorable feat that you have accomplished here.   We've lost two of our friends here with Augie and George Lackie both before their time.  It was an honor to have known them both and how they contributed to this Forum and the world.  Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and we'll bend an elbow to Augie and you tonight.  God Bless you for all you did.  Big Smile Augie - Big Smile,
John