SaltyNinja

I went ahead and got this book (used) as suggested as well. Thanks again for the guidance in quality literature!

OK, I needed this earlier this evening.

Bob reiterated this same thought in his post. That's probably what was being referred to. Thank you for your reply to my question.

"Chapelle's writing style may seem pedantic, "harshly judgmental, and/or "arrogant," to today's reader, but at the risk of being accused of the same (as has happened before ) Chapelle's prose style was entirely appropriate in its time. It is only fairly recently that an ethic of "political correctness" has our academic literary style, what one might call the "Little League Syndrome" where "everybody wins a prize," and God forbid anybody would be heard to say that the losing team lost because they played poorly! " Thanks for the thoughtful, if not thorough, reply Bob. I am not sure if you read my post before I edited it, but I had a sentence addressing my PC sensibilities that I deleted for the sake of clarity in my question(s)! Further, that's one of the thoughts I was unsure of, e.g., style of writing/directness vs. arrogance. 😆 "Chapelle's opinion that there were more than enough Constitution and Victory models around already and it was a waste of energy for a modeler to bother building another one, or that plans (and kits) for vessels that are pure conjecture, the Mayflowers, Golden Hinds, Bonhomme Richards, Half Moons and so on, serve only to pollute the historical record!" I've got to learn how to scratch build, because I want to model West Coast fishing boats and not do a Victory parade. Jk! I'm going to start my career over here with the planking project, however. Then maybe a dory level 1 kit, then...well we'll see if I make it that far. Thanks again 👍

And thanks for all the other replies. I appreciate every suggestion and helps given!

Thanks for this suggestion. I ordered the Tage Frid books 1 and 2 used for $18. I'm not sure if I need the third one on furniture making, but may seek it out later.

If so, what was the controversy? I don't remember where, but someplace in my recent reading and musings I read that he was considered controversial to some, and I'm wondering why? I just finished reading "The History of American Sailing Ships" and in the book there were times when he made what seemed to be harsh judgements upon a design. While reading, this struck me as certain confidence, or even some bit of arrogance. For example, he made comments on selected period designers as "not being educated" a couple of times, while praising another as "being a well educated man". Is this what made him "controversial"? I understand that Chapelle himself was not an "educated" man, so this line of thought on a "controversial" part of him is probably attributed to my ignorance. Were these just the facts stated plainly, or was this part of the "controversy"? He is an authority of nautical history, so I posted the question in this forum.

"How To's" for the time being. I ordered "The Collins Complete Woodworker: A Detailed Guide to Design, Techniques, and Tools for the Beginner and Expert" today. So I'm starting with that one. I saw a book called "The Handplane Book" by Garrett Hack that I might seek to obtain next. Thanks Mark

Hey Wharf Rats, Sharks, and Distinguished Navigators at the helm, I'm looking for excellent and or classic woodshop/woodcraft reads (books) and references. Thanks for any suggestions!

Glenn, I'm a complete neophyte taking your glue suggestion to the NRG "18th-Century Merchantman Half-Hull Planking Kit" bank, as it should be in the mail by the 2nd day of the new week. Thanks for the direction on some good glue. I guess I'll have to blame something else now, and it won't be the development of patience! Ian the SaltyNinja

Thanks Harvey. I would love to see your efforts. Have you seen the book "Drawing on Our History: Fishing Vessels of the Pacific North West" by James A. Cole? It's got Columbia River boat history and drawings/pictures in it.

Yeah, I'll be checking the Vanguard Kits for a beginner one. I looked at them and I think I can try a simple one. Thanks for the heading and coordinates James.

I think your model looks like it is coming together well. I can't give you an educated opinion on your gap question because I'm new.

Sounds good Chris. I worked on the Autumn Star from Morrow Bay. That boat fished salmon, albacore, and sword fish. It spent time docked in Moss Landing too. Moss Landing used to be a powerful fishing harbor. Yeah, I moved out here about 4 years ago from Santa Cruz after completing a third (and mid-life) career change. I could have found work in the Monterey Bay Area, but the economics out here allow me to pack more towards retirement at a faster rate, and have a home. I ride my motorcycle up to Mariposa and Hwy 49 etc. quite a bit.

Yeah, the fishery in the SF Bay collapsed unfortunately. Too much pressure and poor environmental conditions I think?

No, I was in the South East and Prince William Sound areas seining for salmon. Never got up to the Bering Sea. The derby days for me was involved in herring fishing in San Francisco Bay. The herring row was highly valuable to the Japanese and the fishery was big money for a while. It was the best money I ever made quickly, and was crazy, if not fun! This fishery took place in my backyard too. That was comparatively easy duty. The opposite was Albacore fishing offshore on 65 foot Martin Allen designed steel troller. We would generally unload to tender ships that came out of Samoa and wouldn't touch shore for more than three months at a time. On the Albacore trollers it's a two or three man crew, which includes the skipper. The boat I always worked on was always the skipper and I. It was more work, but I got better crew share that way. I had a lot of adventures, dangers, and life experiences that I cherish.

Hello Salts and Bilge Rats, My name is Ian. I reside in the beautiful dust bowl that is the Central Valley of California. I grew up in Santa Cruz, California and spent a formidable amount of time in my youth and early 20's on the ocean commercial fishing. I started at the age of 12 with my dad and moved on to other boats that traveled further rather quickly. Back then, the further traveled, the better. I've worked on the on the Pacific from San Diego to Alaska, and off shore up to 2600 miles on boats from 37 feet to 70 feet. Fished Salmon, Tuna, Sword Fish, and Herring, on seiners, gill netters, and trollers. I've worked for unbelievably awesome Norwegian, Italian, and Portuguese fishermen. I have a love for the romance of the sea, but learned that the days, months, and years spent in relative isolation and loneliness was too much for me. When the fishing was good, the mind was occupied, but if it was slow fishing or we were laid up due to weather for any stretch of time...well it drove me nuts! I have no scale modeling skills or experience. I'm here to learn about it and give it a try. I am going to try the hull planking project for my first attempt. I'm hoping that the build thread for that construction endeavor helps to guide me. My ultimate goal is to learn to build by scratch so that I can build a class Monk Designed West Coast Salmon Troller. I think I saw original plans once while surfing the internet that you can buy from builders that own the plans now. I don't have any idea what I'm doing, so we'll see. Westward we go, easy by easy!