James Caird by BNoah - FINISHED

[BNoah]

LAUNCHING the JAMES CAIRD:  December 10, 2018

  I've decided to do one last scratch ship model. For those of you not familiar with the "Caird" here is a summary of the voyage:
 

After nearly a year being locked in Weddell Sea pack ice, the "Endurance," carrying Earnest Shackleton's "Trans Antarctic Expedition" sank in October 1915. Expedition members survived on the floating sea ice until April 1916 when they took to the sea in three of the ship's lifeboats and made their way to icebound Elephant Island in the South Polar Sea. Here, Shackleton had the largest of the boats, which he named the "James Caird" for one of the expedition's sponsors, prepared for a journey of nearly 700 miles to a Norwegian whaling station on the southeast coast of  South Georgia Island. He was successful and his men were rescued and returned to England without loss of life.

  The black and white photo is of the launching of the Caird from Elephant Island. These and other expedition photographs supply some details for the build.  I contacted Dulwich College where a restored Caird is displayed.  They graciously provided a sketch of the boat’s lines and two “below deck” photographs of the boat’s interior. These were invaluable. The book, “Shackleton’s Boat:  The Story of the James Caird,” by Harding McGregor Dunnett provided valuable details on conflicting descriptions of the boat’s details, restoration, depredations, and repairs.   I hope I get this all right.

 The color photograph:  I've reckoned the boats Lines, prepared templates, sketched the false frames and gathered materials to start the build. Should be successful in a couple of years. If it is a bust, I can always consign it to a fiery Viking funeral.

For Posting.docx

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued. December 13, 2018

The false frames have been cut and mounted. The hard part, placing and bending the staves now begins. Unlike my other builds, this has no internal support so once the false frame is planked the hull has to be removed like an egg shell. The only part from this step of the build which will remain in the final construction will be the keel.

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued -- December 17, 2018

 I have placed the top staves, molding them to the false frame and attaching them to the keel and each other. Due to the curves involved I have used a heavier plank than on previous builds and am encountering physical difficulties that may make this the hardiest build yet, in-spite of its seeming simplicity.  Staves were scavenged from one of the four life boats to provide the Caird  more freeboard "on the ice" as the boat was man-hauled to the open sea to provide additional protection.   Interior support used wood from provision boxes.

[ccoyle]

An interesting subject! To continue this log, just add replies to this thread -- hitting the "create new topic" button will create multiple build logs.

 

Cheers!

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued --  December 20, 2018

The planking is completed and it looks pretty rough. It will have to be heavily sanded inside and out to achieve the proper lines. Sculpted really. But first it has to be released from the false frame by cutting through the support at the bow and stern. The boat can then be lifted off. It is just a fragile eggshell at this point.

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued -- January 3, 2019

This stage has been a real grind. The boat has been hand-sanded and shaped and it still looks battered, which is good. The Caird was damaged as it made its way over and through pack ice. Its sides were raised by salvaging another lifeboat (notice the top three strakes are narrower than the remainder). The seams were calked using hemp rope and the oil paints of the expedition's artist. Later I will add a "tingle" patch to the bow where it was stove. The model has gone from being just eggshell fragile to feeling like origami. I'll hold off removing the mounting blocks on the bow and stern but proceed with placing the 40 ribs. It really needs the reinforcement.

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued -- January 18, 2019

We've (The "Caird" and I) made some progress since my last posting. The mounting blocks were finally cut away leaving just the bow and stern posts. The ribbing, interior wales and the exterior bumpers have been added. It begins to look like something. In the original when the sides were raised, Shackleton's carpenter cannibalized wooden packing cases as extensions between the boat's original ribs for support. That is why these are unpainted wood whereas the original boat was painted white. There is still a long way to go . . . but perhaps it is time for me to talk to my sail maker about getting that part of the project started.

[Chuck]

Noah it looks great but just reply to this topic rather than start a new one when you want to update it.

 

Chuck

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Continued -- August 22, 2019

The stretching of the canvas deck has been completed with the edges trimmed and pegged as in the original.  The cockpit has been boxed. The masts have been set dry, so rigging of sails, standing and running rigging can begin.

[BNoah]

JAMES CAIRD: Build Completed -- September 3, 2019

This is it, I'm finished, the James Caird, she is done. I shall bore you no more.
I've raised the masts, slung the standing as well as the running rigging, and raised the sails.
I've had to take a few liberties at this stage. We know that shrouds were attached to four nails to hold the masts, but we don't know how the shrouds were secured other that there were no deadeyes available to supply tension. I've used a "midshipman's knot" which would have allowed the crew to supply or decrease tension as necessary.
Only one of the original oarlocks exists. It was easy to place a mate on the opposite side of the boat but it is unknown where the other two described in diaries were located. I placed them so that they were accessible to an oarsman in the cockpit.
Finally, we can see in period photos that a wind telltale or dogvane was on the top of both masts but we don't know if they were flags or just scraps of cloth. Shackleton's sledging pennant was a simple white field with parallel blue stripes, so that is what has been placed on the main mast.

[josh44]

Terrific boat!!

 

Their's was an incredible story of survival and leadership.

Says I, who's avatar is is an official HMS Endurance snowglobe. 😎

 

Now, will you please make the Dudley Docker and Stancomb Wills??

-Josh

 

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!

[Schooners]

Great job man.  It is a shame to hide the detail under the cover.