Power Cruiser Marlin by Andrea Rossato - Scale 1:32

[Andrea Rossato]

Years ago I was lucky enough to be able to have a copy of the original designs of this very important yacht, very important both historically and for those who have used it over the years. The drawings are complete with structure and interiors.
I am now building the Schooner Etoile, but it is my habit to take a few years to do proper historical research and drawings before starting to build a model.
Yesterday I started looking in my archives for what I already have on a documentary level to understand what information I lack.

 

Marlin 

Designer: Walter J. McInnis

Builder: F.D. Lawler

Where: Quincy, Massachusetts

When launched: 1930

First owner: Edsel Ford

Second owner: Schenley Distillers

During Second WW drafted into coastal patrol service (Coast Guard)

Third owner: Yellow Cab Company of Cambridge, Mass.

Owned from 1952 to 1970 by the Kennedy family

Present owner: Diego Della Valle, Italy (since 2005)

 

These are the words of President John F. Kennedy, addressing the crews of Weatherly and Gretel in Newport, Rhode Island, during the America’s Cup in 1962. JFK’s passion for the sea is well documented. In photos, he looks most at ease on the water, spending time with family and friends.

One of his favorite boats was a power cruiser named Marlin. Purchased by the Kennedy family when JFK was a young senator, Marlin became a Cold War conference room for the president as he dealt with complex postwar issues.

The 52-foot powerboat — with a double-planked, mahogany rumrunner hull — was designed by Boston naval architect Walter J.

McInnis for Ford Motor Co. heir Edsel Ford. She was built at the F.D. Lawley yard in Quincy, Massachusetts, and launched in 1930, powered by twin Chrysler Royal engines. (Marlin was repowered twice, the Kennedys replacing twin 6-cylinder Sterling Dolphins with a pair of Chrysler V-8s.) The original design showed an uncovered bridge. There was a stateroom for the owner, crew quarters and a galley abaft the forward cockpit. The boat also sported a fathometer and a ship-to-shore radio.

 

 

Ford sold the boat in 1935 to the Schenley Distillers family. Commandeered by the government, she was used for coastal patrols during World War II. She later was sold to the Yellow Cab Co. of Massachusetts, which put her at the disposal of the state’s governor.

The Kennedys acquired the boat in 1952, and it served the family for almost 20 years. On becoming president, JFK often used Marlin for meetings and discussions with U.S. and world leaders. He was on board with his advisers in August 1961 when he was informed that the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was erecting the Berlin Wall.

Marlin was donated to a university in 1970 and sold at auction. The 87-year-old boat today turns heads in the Mediterranean.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Very nice,  This should be a handsome model.

[Andrea Rossato]

33 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

Very nice,  This should be a handsome model.

yes, beautiful, with a nice historical value and a definite difficulty, due to details in stainless steel / chrome, furnishings, etc ... the scale then requires not to neglect anything. It is 50 feet and in 1:32 scale it is large enough

[Andrea Rossato]

Some drawings 😁... i’ve a big work to transform project in model project 

I’m sorry to the bad photos but i make with my smartphone 

[KeithAug]

Very interesting Andrea. Stainless steel is going to be tricky.I look forward to seeing how you get along.

[Andrea Rossato]

10 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Very interesting Andrea. Stainless steel is going to be tricky.I look forward to seeing how you get along.

Yes, stainless steel is difficult to work with, to bend, the only thing that is easy is to weld it, I have welded a lot in my life and always with castolin brazing

[Roger Pellett]

In my opinion, she looks even better as originally built, without the enclosed bridge.

 

Roger

[vaddoc]

Very interesting project at a proper scale. How excellent that you have the complete plans!

In the introduction it is mentioned that it is double planked, how would the planks be arranged? One just on top of the other? The plans seem to show a single layer of plank.

[Andrea Rossato]

15 hours ago, vaddoc said:

Very interesting project at a proper scale. How excellent that you have the complete plans!

In the introduction it is mentioned that it is double planked, how would the planks be arranged? One just on top of the other? The plans seem to show a single layer of plank.

Right observation on double-planked, the introduction I took from an article in a nautical magazine, and looking at the various sections of the project I found a double-planked in the bow and stern ... this is one of the aspects that I need to verify in the design phase. Normally I never do double-planked if not present in reality, I work more and useless. There have been some major renovations, the last in 2005 which led to changes compared to the original project, this will also be the subject of my study wherever possible. I apologize for my terrible English.

[Roger Pellett]

No problem with your command of English.  Your writing is clear and understandable.  I am looking forward to following your project.