John Ruy Posted July 16, 2021 Share #1 Posted July 16, 2021 The schooner Bowdoin was designed by William H. Hand, Jr., and built in 1921, in East Boothbay, Maine at the Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard. She is the only American schooner built specifically for Arctic exploration, and was designed under the direction of explorer Donald B. MacMillian. She has made 29 trips above the Arctic Circle in her life, three since she was acquired by the Maine Maritime Academy in 1988. She is currently owned by the Maine Maritime Academy, located in Castine Maine, and is used for their sail training curriculum. She is named for Bowdoin College. Information taken from Wikipedia. Actually found this vintage Laughing Whale kit in Searsport, Maine in the Bluejacket Shipcrafters Gallery. They had some kits in the corner from a long time customer’s estate. What was really cool, is that I talk to a gentleman (forgot his name) working there that worked at Laughing Whale in Wiscasset, Maine. He verified the kit was complete and told me he probably cut out the pieces for the kit 40 years ago. 😎 Bluejacket does have this kit available with all the laser cut pieces and nicer fittings. So this build is for you @MrBlueJacket I love to rescue these old kits, I will try to make you proud. Yes I have this drawing framed. I like collecting and framing these old blueprints for my Gallery. Everything is in very nice condition considering the age of this kit. Sheet No 1 is up on the board. These keel and bulkheads are all hand cut 40 years ago. Everything else will need to be cut out by me. 😆 First steps, glueing the keel and bulkheads. Trying a new glue (new for me) Loctite has a wood glue with a 10 minute clamp time. I think this will be better for laminating than CA Glue. We will see… 🤔 toms10, GrandpaPhil, clearway and 9 others 12 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlueJacket Posted July 16, 2021 Share #2 Posted July 16, 2021 Hi John, It was Dr Al Ross who you talked to. Nic thibaultron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted July 16, 2021 41 minutes ago, MrBlueJacket said: Hi John, It was Dr Al Ross who you talked to. Nic Thanks Nic, Ah yes of course, I follow him on Facebook. He’s currently designing the Wyoming, right? I was thinking Al was the name, but I wasn’t sure. Please let me know if there are any enhancements for the Bowdoin available. I am following a couple of completed builds of the Bluejacket Bowdoin on here to make this vintage build special. John thibaultron 1 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Pellett Posted July 16, 2021 Share #4 Posted July 16, 2021 John, An interesting ship. I look forward to following your progress. I grew up in Akron, Ohio where my father worked for BF Goodrich and the company brought well known speakers to town to educate and entertain their employees and their families. I remember as a child, listening to Donald McMillian discuss his expeditions complete with color slides. Vintage 1950’s! In 1966, the Navy ordered me to Groton, CT to familiarize myself in nuclear submarine construction operations. A highlight was hands on training at Electric Boat’s pipe welding school in what is now the library for Mystic Seaport. This gave me the opportunity to visit the Seaport in off duty hours. Much to my surprise Bowdoin was one of the vessels on display. I don’t remember being able to go onboard. If my memory is correct, her hull shape was designed specifically for ice operations; the idea being that forces from ice would cause the hull to lift rather than crush. Like squeezing a watermelon seed! Roger Cathead and thibaultron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathead Posted July 16, 2021 Share #5 Posted July 16, 2021 Very cool prototype and kit story, looking forward to this build. Roger, if I recall correctly, Nansen's Fram was built the same way (to move upward under ice pressure) as opposed to Shackleton's Endurance, which relied on brute force hull strength. Not sure if Fram was the first to do so or was following previous designs in that respect. I would assume the builders of the current vessel were aware of Fram and any of her predecessors. Roger Pellett, John Ruy and thibaultron 2 1 Quote Eric Current builds: scratchbuilt Missouri River steamboat Peerless (1893); 1:1 scale timber-framed outdoor kitchen Nautical builds (kits): USS Cairo; NRG capstan project; NRG half-hull; Viking longship; US revenue cutter; 18th century longboat; Bounty launch Missouri River craft (scratchbuilt): 1853 Missouri River steamboat Arabia; 1865 steamboat Bertrand; Lewis & Clark barge; keelboat; 1876 steamboat Far West Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted July 16, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Roger Pellett said: If my memory is correct, her hull shape was designed specifically for ice operations; the idea being that forces from ice would cause the hull to lift rather than crush. Like squeezing a watermelon seed! Roger, Your memory serves you correctly, The Bowdoin was designed specifically to survive being trapped between two ice flows. Something MacMillian was always on the look out from aloft in his ice barrel as he navigated the Arctic. This book is the best regarding the Bowdoin’s life in the Arctic and up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Fascinating little Schooner. Saw her this last year at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine Maine working with students abroad. Took these photos of her myself, so looking forward to working on this build. She’s going to be a beauty. Welcome aboard. 🍻 Edited July 16, 2021 by John Ruy coxswain, Cathead, Roger Pellett and 2 others 4 1 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 17, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) Cutting out pieces using templates. A photo copy pieces to be cut out… Printed the copies on card stock. Laid out the templates on Bass Wood. Laminated the pieces onto the keel using the Loctite Express Wood Glue. This is much better than CA Glue. No gluing my fingers together. 😆 These kits do give me an appreciation for the laser cut kits. Cheers 🍻 Edited July 17, 2021 by John Ruy thibaultron, Cathead, GrandpaPhil and 5 others 8 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted July 18, 2021 Rigged up a Keel Vice… Started work on the bulk heads… Onwards… 😎 BobG, Cathead, yvesvidal and 2 others 5 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted July 18, 2021 Keel vise 2.0… Had to fix some warp-age… so I am on my 2nd version of a building slip. 😆 Bulkheads are in place should dry with no warping. Next up sub decks… cheers 🍻 GrandpaPhil, Cathead, yvesvidal and 4 others 7 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted July 19, 2021 Installing the sub deck… Clamped the two precut halves of the sub deck together with the 10 min clamp wood glue. Precut slots for the bulkheads needed some adjustment. Checking the fit… Need to trim up edges, marked with pencil. Looks like a good fit… Next up, cutting out deck furnishings. Using Rubber Cement to hold templates in place. (Old school) 😆 tkay11, yvesvidal, Cathead and 4 others 7 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 20, 2021 Author Share #11 Posted July 20, 2021 Rubber Cement Templates… Thin coat applied… All templates laid out… Carefully cut using light pressure and multiple passes… Drill out portholes with 1/8” bit and finalize to the correct size with round needle file. Be careful not to split the wood. On the shelf until I finish planking and decking. Onwards. 😎 Cathead, thibaultron, BobG and 1 other 4 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 20, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted July 20, 2021 It’s been a good day in my MSW. Progress… Used strip wood to fare out the bulkhead surfaces for the sub decking. Begin shaping the bulkheads for mounting of the sub deck. 150 grit sanding… This view shows the rough cut bulkheads…. I decided to use templates to get the bulkheads shaped properly. I should have done this before I mounted everything to the keel. 😩 Hind sight is always 100%. 😆 Moving on… 150 grit and persistence gets it right. 😎 Gluing down the fore deck… Soaking wet, trying to get the curve right. Had to re-glue and clamp… Ta Da… sub deck glued in place. Straight, I hope 🤞 We will know more when I remove the Rubber Band/Close-pin Clamping System. 😎 Bulkhead to sub deck joints look good. 👍. Later 🍻 Cathead, BobG, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share #13 Posted July 21, 2021 (edited) It actually came out straight. 😆 A bit more 150 grit, to fare things up. Laid out the templates for the scribed decking. Needed to narrow up the bow a bit. Templates are all set… Scribed decking is in two halves. Used painters blue tape to hold temporarily while I mark and cut out the decks. Traced out templates with pencil Notched out the decking for bulkheads. Dry fit looks good. 👍 Thought I would stain the decks cherry. I will give them a coat of semi gloss poly, before I glue them down. (tomorrow) It was a good day… 😎 Cheers 🍻 Edited July 21, 2021 by John Ruy clearway, BobG, Roger Pellett and 6 others 9 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobG Posted July 21, 2021 Share #14 Posted July 21, 2021 Fast work and looks great! John Ruy and thibaultron 1 1 Quote Bob Garcia "Measure once, cuss twice!" Current Builds: Hms Brig-Sloop Flirt 1782 - Vanguard Models Pen Duick - Artesania Latina 1:28 Completed: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Co. Member of the Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share #15 Posted July 21, 2021 Thanks Bob… I think I’m starting get the hang of it. These vintage kits do force skill development. 😆 Lots of scratch building with little if any instruction. Thank goodness I have MSW Build logs to reference. 🙏 I appreciate your comments along the way. Thanks again for your encouragement. thibaultron 1 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearway Posted July 22, 2021 Share #16 Posted July 22, 2021 Nice work and a nice looking schooner- and another polar exploration vessel casts off in MSW😁. Keith thibaultron and John Ruy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 25, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted July 25, 2021 Waterways… After viewing photos of the Bowdoin Restoration, I noticed the Laughing Whale Bowdoin does not show the same waterways. I am building the waterways as follows. I am starting with first plank at the same level as the main sub deck. I notched 1/8” strips and placed them on the outside edge of the deck. I did the same on the inside… The fore sub deck is a step higher. Sanding and shaping as I go… Waterways completed. View from the stern… Trimmed up deck templates to fit new waterways. I will use the new template to shape the decking to fit inside the waterways. Later 🍻 GrandpaPhil and Cathead 2 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 25, 2021 Author Share #18 Posted July 25, 2021 (edited) More photos of the Bowdoin restoration. I will be using these photos to guide my building of the bulwarks and waterways. Photos are from the Maine Maritime Academy Bowdoin Deck Restoration Project web site. Many Thanks to Andrew @ahb26 for your build log on the Bowdoin and your reference to this site. Edited July 25, 2021 by John Ruy GrandpaPhil and Cathead 2 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted July 26, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted July 26, 2021 (edited) Bulwarks and Waterways… And so it begins… I have worked out the bulwark planking and have started cutting the timbers. Using CA glue to facilitate a quicker process. No clamping time… 😆 Cut my first waterways. A bit rough, but some filler on the planking and some needle filling will clean it up. Sanding off the timbers as I go… Waterways from the inside on the fore deck. Placement exactly 1/2” (32/64” actually). Measure twice glue once… First two waterways it on the main deck. I’ll need to square these up. Enough for now more later… Off to the Cape for the week. Finally got some good camping weather. 🤞 Cheers 🍻 Edited July 26, 2021 by John Ruy clearway, GrandpaPhil, yvesvidal and 1 other 4 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share #20 Posted August 3, 2021 (edited) Back from Cape Cod, great weather. Stopped in to the Cape Cod Maritime Museum. Great boat building shop, got some appreciation for the craft. Awesome… 😎 Back to the Bowdoin… This is a photograph I took myself two years ago in Castine, ME. The Bowdoin is working out of the Maine Maritime Academy. Looking at this hull and the restoration photos from the Academy’s web site. I will adjust planking in accordance to this latest restoration vs the instructions of the Laughing Whale kit. That said this Bowdoin will not be the 1921 version. 😆 A bit of custom clamping to correct the Bulwarks. Clamping on additional 1/32 plank on the bulwarks Bulwarks complete… Sanding… Painting and craft paste. Second coat… Later 🍻 Edited August 3, 2021 by John Ruy clearway, GrandpaPhil and Cathead 3 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share #21 Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) Decking and Transom… Scribed decking glued down successfully, I think individual planks may have been easier. 😆 Inside of tail piece carved out… Cutting and carving for the transom. Almost there… 😝 Transom planking pattern, taken from restoration photos. Onwards… 😎 Edited August 4, 2021 by John Ruy GrandpaPhil, niwotwill, Cathead and 4 others 7 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 5, 2021 Author Share #22 Posted August 5, 2021 About that Transom… Finalized the shape of the tail piece with a mini roto sander. Cut Transom out of 1/32 material. Laminated 1/32 planks… Transom In place… Restoration photo… I think I will plank this piece to give it a flatter appearance. Started planking, something tells me this isn’t going to be easy. 😆 GrandpaPhil, Ed Gibbons, BobG and 3 others 6 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share #23 Posted August 6, 2021 Finishing up the tail piece and transom. Trimming down the side planks. Planking roughed in around the Transom. Used some 1/32” sheet material to extend the forward side of the tail piece. Filling and sanding the bulwarks planking and tail end around transom. Third coat of craft paste. Should be ready to finish the water ways after this sets and is sanded again. 😎 Progress… 🍻 GrandpaPhil, gsdpic, clearway and 3 others 6 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share #24 Posted August 8, 2021 (edited) Planking… Not so sure I like the Craft Paste, it is a bit too rubber/vinyl like. 🤔 I will probably go back to wood filler for smoothing out the hull. Pencil marked the bulwarks/deck for a starting point to lay the first plank. Created a gauge and wood glued the first plank. Second plank in place… I have found that pins are working better than clamps. Switched back to CA glue at this point. Will need to wet these last two for the twist to the transom. Creative clamping, but I think I have got it. Starting a few rows from the keel up, while the stern dries. This is a very “twisted” hull. 😆 She is coming together nicely, albeit with some effort. 😝 Plastic wood is my friend… See you next week. Off camping to Mount Blue for a couple of days. Cheers 🍻 Edited August 11, 2021 by John Ruy GrandpaPhil, clearway, Cathead and 1 other 4 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 11, 2021 Author Share #25 Posted August 11, 2021 Planking continued… Using ammonia and water to soak planks in place. Tapering planks to fit the stern at the transom. Clamping wet planks in place as they dry. Planks will need tapering as get closer to finishing the hull. Stern shaping up nicely. Trimmed up planks at transom. Cut out another transom pattern from 1/32” material to fill the transom up to planking. Things getting a bit tight, some tapering required. Wood filler in all the cracks… We will sand this down tomorrow and see how she looks. Cheers 🍻 G.L., Cathead, clearway and 4 others 7 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobG Posted August 11, 2021 Share #26 Posted August 11, 2021 Lots of progress, John. The hull will look great once you get it sanded. John Ruy 1 Quote Bob Garcia "Measure once, cuss twice!" Current Builds: Hms Brig-Sloop Flirt 1782 - Vanguard Models Pen Duick - Artesania Latina 1:28 Completed: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Co. Member of the Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 12, 2021 Author Share #27 Posted August 12, 2021 (edited) About that Transom… Funny how you will notice details in a photograph that you missed while building. Taking a close look at this photo of the tail and transom, and review of the drawing I noticed transom does not meet the rail, as it should. Fortunately it is a wood carving project after all. 😆 I sanded down most of what I had built up in the previous steps. Now that the transom meets the railing. I remarked the transom with the template I had used all along. Re-Carving to bring the planking into the transom. Much better… 😎 Another “thin” coat of Testors Craft Paste and we are ready for another overnight dry. It wouldn’t be perfect if we couldn’t fix it, right? Cheers 🍻 Edited August 12, 2021 by John Ruy clearway, yvesvidal, BobG and 3 others 6 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ruy Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share #28 Posted August 14, 2021 Sanding the hull… Not quite where I would like it to be… Another thicker layer of craft paste. I will have to let this dry for a few days before sanding. 😝 Later… Cathead, ERS Rich, BobG and 4 others 7 Quote Gallery Photos of My Charles W Morgan Currently working on New Bedford Whale Boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvesvidal Posted August 14, 2021 Share #29 Posted August 14, 2021 It is getting there..... Patience. Yves John Ruy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted August 14, 2021 Share #30 Posted August 14, 2021 Looking great. I always liked this kit when I look at Blue Jacket's site. Maybe someday. For now I will live through your build. John Ruy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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