Boothbay Brig H G Berry 1853 by Jond - FINISHED - 1:64

[Jond]

What a great question.  I am going to do a little searching before answering. I'll be back tomorrow.  they did both here over time. My gut says that bigger vessels with huge heavy masts were easier to rig on land and the ratio of the mast weight to the hull was less significant.  Thus navy yards, clipper ships, the big schooners even here in Boothbay all had masts when they were launched. Think of the gin pole necessary for swinging that weight.  Schooners by that time were still two masted and tended not to have masts stepped. Again a 150 ton fishing schooner is a different animal from a ship.   Our half brig that we are discussing was about 320 tones, fatter and heavier, so less impact of the weight of a mast over the water lain during launch.   

 

stand by

Edited December 15, 2022 by Jond
relate to following

[Jond]

mast in or out of the H G Berry one the ways

 

I did a little digging into weight, rigging logistics and the like and viewed some more images to see if I can at least rationalize a point of view if a 112-foot 320 ton rated half brig would have been launched in a small Maine yard with or without spars. The recent book I referenced earlier by the recent retired curator of Maine Maritime Museum tells of the 200 years of Maine ship building. It had very few images of early launching.   It is clear in that volume that across Maine by the 1860’s, all the big schooners, Downeaster’s etc. had their masts on as they slid down the ways.  

Here we go for 1857 in our village…Let’s figure out the size of the masts. 

If I used the Torrent painting embedded in CAD and scaled. The lower fore mast was 45+ feet plus housing and the lower mainmast 65+ feet plus housing. If I use the formula in Crowther’s book of 1 inch diameter to 3-ft of length, we get 18 inches and 24 inches.  If we take a mean value of 50 LB per cu ft for average spruce and other mast material, we are almost ready to calculate. Before we do though, I suspect the foremast was fine at 18 inches.  The Crothers formula of 1 to 3 is for ships.  The schooner rig of the main mast I suggest could be lighter, I am guessing closer to 20 inches [that is the real Ernestina Morrissey [110’ OD] schooner today] than to 24 inches.  Considering the taper loss of volume is a bit of a guess.  That said, and a little math later, we have the foremast at say 2 plus tons  and the mainmast just over 3.5 tons.

How does one handle a 75+-foot-long [ including the mast housing below deck] spar that weighs almost tons [ including rigging].  i recommend the lifting point needs to be above center say 40-45 feet above the deck That is 50 +’ feet after launch and perhaps 65-70’ on shore.  As late and the 20th century, 100 -150 plus ton schooners were launch bare and masts set on the dock. So truly I am projecting here.

Now of course it is possible to lift a pole with lifting points below center, but why would you? It would lake more cables and winches and men and raise the risk.  In my opinion the 45 feet long plus foremast would have been easier to set while on the ground. It would then be a part of the rigging of the second mast either on land or in the water.  I have no basis to say, but suggest the 77-foot mast would have been easier to handle in the water if there was a common dock with a pole needed to step masts.  It makes sense though if a gin pole is set up to set the foremast. Why not use it and the foremast to set the main mast before launch. 

My current plan is a bit simple.  Just like the Ernestina model, I do not plan to complete all the rigging and sails. I am trying to show all the bones and using framing the insides of the vessel. The second vessel Albert within the build has all the spars and sails and lines etc. and is rigged the same way.    Together they make a display to be …the brigs of Boothbay.   I like to insert stub masts as artistic license and to give a little help to the average non nautical audience.  The question Wefalck raised though gives me the idea to consider making up and setting a 9-inch-high lower foremast. I might even hang a few shrouds and forestay.   Something to think about !

cheers 
 

[Jond]

73. today I wanted a New Year’s photo shoot to record where we are as 2022 comes to an end.

As time is now divided with the new schooner build, things are going slow.  That is not a problem I think, as I don't need to have this build done until May. 

 

• 1   first up.... what is done since last time.  The stanchions are almost ready to receive the main rails.  The planking is progressing on both sides, but I will be adding more. Lots of smaller frames and the fore cabin frames to add.   In this view we see the new sling support to hold things as work progresses.

The display.

I must figure out the combined plan. The two half brigs are to be displayed together to tell the intended story of 32 brigs built here between 1829 to 1858. 

• 2    In this view we have two vessels going in the same direction.  Perhaps they are better headed toward each other. That solution will come together much later after preparing the story boards to be displayed behind the models.  

The larger half brig H G Berry

• 3   the larger half brig is shown to be under construction.  The port side has the optional space to show some construction activity …. what to do??

 

• 4    The starboard side will have more planking in place. Also note I have stepped a partial foremast. Should I do this step and then partially support it with some shrouds?   What do I do about the much taller main mast?  One suggestion is to have it on the side ready to be installed.  Once the rails are on, and several other missing frame pieces are installed, I need to clean it all up and get some oil on.  

The small half brig Albert

• 5   not much has changed in the last few weeks.  I peck away at the rigging

 

• 6    here we see a mess of loose lines as I am slowly getting them tied off, and I have started putting on the coils.  The cabins are sitting loose for the photo. I cannot install them until all the lines are tied off.

 

• 7.    here I have started the braces. They are the last running rigging to go in. everything is loose currently.  

all done for this year.....Happy 2023
 

[Jond]

74 completed the hull….sort of

This update is to celebrate the end of adding planking to the hull.  I have decided to keep the rest open.  I cannot call it complete as there are several details to be added and the clean-up [ remove stubborn glue and dust from inside of frames] and oil it all. I use tung oil.   

• 1   here a few days ago I completed the port side.

 

• 2    today I completed the starboard side. Too bad this is dry January!

 

• 3    here we are sitting on the ways. On this starboard side we have more of the planking completed and we are up against the side.

 

• 4    here is the port side with room to show some activity.

 

• 5    I had a lot of concern on how the stern would come out.  Honestly it is a little bigger than I wanted.  To look ok, I needed all the planking so the fashion pieces could go in to make the corners.   The soft red cedar is not good for sharp ends.

 

• 6.   I also added the rudder.  I will be adding some iron work later as I trim things out. I also need to figure out how I plan to prop the hull in the display.   

Let’s look at what remains before we move to punch list and finishing

• 7   here is the bow section. I have done more on the starboard side.  The hawse pipe went in this week.  I will add bitts and things after the rails.  

 

• 8    here in the mid-section we see at the moment the foremast.   I am not sure what to do here.  I may add the lower main mast but that really opens a rabbit hole.  I have the framing for the fore cabin roughed out and want to get it in and then consider if  I add any masts.  

 

• 9    here I have the rough framing almost done for the main cabin.  It has more framing as I suspect it had a light roof decking.  I will put cabin top decking and then think of if any more like skylight frame. 

 

• 10    Well my helper keeps me getting up to open or close the door,  she only yawned when I explained todays  milestone…that is how it goes.

[Jond]

75. H G Berry the rails are on !

An update on the progress of deck work. First up is an oops.  I have started a schooner build that I am building at 1:48 scale. This build is at 1:64.  I got mixed up and built the rough frame for the deck house way to big..

• 1    here we are ..oops a little big

 

• 2    and here we are redone at our scale

 

• 3    in this view we see the side planking and frame of the fore cabin.   The figure seems right compared to the painting so onward we go.

Today I am celebrating being sort of done with woodwork.  I am now into the punch list phase including perhaps 15 or 20 miscellaneous frame pieces that are missing from the cabin walls.  Here are a few views

• 4    starboard side 

 

• 5   port side

 

• 6    the bow

 

• 7    The stern.  In this view the masts are most apparent.

 

• 8   looking down where we see cabin top, the  deck and inside of the hold.  This view is to help the viewer to better understand the making of a vessel this size as she'll be sitting next to the smaller version under sail.

Looking ahead I will begin some iron work.  I will set a few shrouds and stays to support the two masts, tie on the rudder and few more details. I will then figure out what if anything will be added using the figures I have to animate the display. Of course I need to do the same with the other half brig where I am slowly, ever so slowly, completing the rigging.

 

All for now
 

[Jond]

Brigs of Boothbay Punch list 

 

This update is just my thinking through priorities for the upcoming season.  We are having a special display and talk on the well-known schooner Bowdoin this summer as she is scheduled to pass through Boothbay Harbor again on her way back to the arctic. Therefore, we plan to do the following:  move and expand the current Bowdoin display out of the Vessels and Captains of Boothbay display at the Boothbay Region Historical Society. I will be working on the expanded display that will tell the story of the first 60 +/-years of Bowdoin and Boothbay.

 

The Brigs of Boothbay display will then take the place of the Bowdoin.  It will need both models and story boards along with a little talk.  To see all these moves, happen, I need to focus on this build, the Blue Dolphin build, the three stories of Bowdoin, Brigs of Boothbay and Blue Dolphin.  All need to be ready by May…..oh my!!

1)    Half brig Albert

• a)    Complete braces and tie off…one to go
• b)    Add 3 pins and tie off main stay sail line
• c)    Complete jib sheets…two to go
• d)    Make coils and set…30 plus to go
• e)    Set cabins
• f)    Paint and install crew…3
• g)    Drill holes for brass pins.   
• h)    Make stand
• i)    Size and order glass box
• j)    Optional small boats.  To be added later after small boat effort for several models together. Likely to be next winter

2)    Half brig H G Berry

• a)    Complete cabin wall frames
• b)    Complete bitts and things
• c)    Add chain plates
• d)    Set lower shrouds…set two and see.  Perhaps set four and set a few ratlines?
• e)    Set lower stays.
• f)    Size and order glass box
• g)    Drill small holes for small pins for keel to sit firmly on the ways center rail
• h)    Set supports posts… decide if milled posts or raw posts
• i)    Paint and set up crew….5
• j)    Optional hoisting activity.  Build a gin pole and rig something being lifted to deck. Then consider having it be rigged to traveler shackle, like whaling tackle to show construction use of masts.  Likely to be next winter build

3)    Storyboard and powerpoint talk:  I have lots of material. I just need to find the time to focus.  I will likely only make a few storyboards to post over the models to explain their intent and the brief saga of our 32 Brigs.  The power point will be perhaps 8-10 rotating slides to be added to the current slide show of captains and vessels
4)    The Bowdoin story boards will focus on the building of Bowdoin here in 1921, being hauled and maintained many times and then replanking in 2021. The slide show will be available for a talk on the history of Macmillan and the Bowdoin before her sale to Maine Maritime Academy.  The intent of that talk eventually will combine it with the Blue Dolphin.

 

 Blue Dolphin has its own build.  There tomorrow.
 

[Jond]

76 almost done.

My time is stretched between completing this build, which goes on display in mid-May, and the Blue Dolphin Schooner with a similar deadline.  The only work I plan to do between now and display I share below. 

 

Small Brig.  I can no longer refer to this brig….half Brig that is.... as Albert. Doing more research, I find it's clear enough that Albert was built by Hodgdon, but in 1823, two years before they were clearly land owners and building in what was called Hodgdon Mill and now East Boothbay.  Our friendly author and expert says it is possible that they came here and built the vessel before buying the land.  Regardless as I have moved into writing the story boards and PowerPoint for the display and introduction talk, that the small Brig model will be just …representative of  the small size of roughtly10 brigs built here.  I will list their names, builders etc.

 

Views 1-4 …Here are views walking around the model. Remaining work includes about half of the little coils and placement of the crew.  We have decided that the tight space where the two models will fit this summer there will be no glass box at this stage.  She will only be on display until October.

Larger brig…yes Half Brig

5.   First an oops.  I was moving ahead adding the masts and lower shrouds.  I found making the little annealed steel loops to tie dead eye to brass chain plates, I broke three dead eyes.   Here the good one to the left and the broken one.  Then two that I cheated and used black thread. Time is king and with a small supply of dead eyes on hand I went ahead and used the thread…sorry

 

View 6-9. Here is a walk around of the larger Brig.  The lower shrouds are on and like other items, the futtocks shrouds, and rattling’s are only done to starboard.  I really like the affect and appreciate that Wefalck challenged that Masts ought be on before launch.  He enticed me and it was a great suggestion and yes  I too believe on these bigger hulls the mast would have been stepped on land.

 

 

Views 10-13  Here we see the bow, the stern, the length of the deck and down through the structure.  I hope it gives a sense of what one of these vessels was like.

 

next up i will share the display and any new oinfo that comes out of the research.  I will also have the crews aboard

 

Cheers 

[wefalck]

Wasn't meant to be a challenge, just an observation from various paintings. While in a way counter-intuitive because of the top-weight during the launching, it was probably easier to step the masts early on: you don't have to lift them that high and there fewer things to damage in the process. To lift the masts into the cabins requires some pretty tall sheerlegs as well.

[Jond]

Wefalck

 

I welcomed you comments and feel that following them and adding the lower masts was an improvement.  My previous build of Ernestina Morrissey, I just put in short dowels where the masts would have gone and was never satisfied with that approach.  we learn more every time, so thanks

 

As  I. suggested  in an earlier post , after analyzing weights and logistics.   I believe the lower masts were best installed early.  Adding your common sense comment about masts going through cabins, it even makes more sense to set them and then build around them.   the weight of the vessel is key.  with the 300 plus ton displacement vs the 120 or so of the similar length schooners [ where masts were not installed first], must have been sufficient to take the weight of the mast 

 

thanks as always

 

I am wrapping this one up soon and writing the story boards to go with it.  thanks to those who joined in

 

 

 

[rwiederrich]

Just joining now.  you've make exceptional expeditious progress....from research to her current state.  Wonderful job indeed.

 

Rob

[Jond]

Rob

I am honored with your visit.  I have spent many hours of the past few years running through your incredible builds.  I have taking liberty to use several of your techniques...or at least try.   Thank you for your kind words.  I am all about learning both the history and sharing through talks and exhibits in the local area to celebrate our local maritime heritage.  

 

best regards

 

jon 

[Jond]

storyboard

 

I just drafted up a storyboard to go with these two models as they are headed to the local Historical society for the summer season. it may be edited a bit before show time.   As to the two models,  I still need to complete repainting the crew and placing them, set more of the coils and things.  set H G Berry on the ways and buy the glass boxes.   

 

here is the story that I wanted to include in this file as I keep a work version of these logs for my record. there is a short powerpoint as well as I need to present them at their annual meeting.

 

The Brigs of Boothbay
30 plus Brigs were built between 1823 and 1855.

Starting with Caleb Hodgdon in 1823, continuing with William and Andrew Adams in East Boothbay and David and James Adams in North Boothbay, roughly ten smaller 75+/- foot brigs with 120-160 tons displacement were built. Some, like Veto shown here, started out as full brigs with square sails on both masts. They were often converted, as most in the Maine industry found the half brig rig [the aft mast rigged like a schooner] as depicted in the smaller sailing model, to be most efficient.  The sailing model represents these smaller brigs.

 

In the middle years the average size of new Boothbay brigs increased to between 180-220 tons. The mid-sized Brig Havana shown here was built on the east side of Boothbay Harbor by Charles Sargent in 1853.   His brother Steven and John Weymouth built at least 5 brigs across the harbor in downtown Boothbay Harbor between 1847 and 1855. Also starting in 1849 barks were built starting in North Boothbay and in 1853 ships were built starting in Boothbay Harbor. 

 

 

 

In the latter years, John McDougall, and the Seavey brothers in Hodgdons Mills, named East Boothbay since 1876, and Steven Sargent and John Weymouth in Boothbay Harbor continued to build larger 100–112-foot half brigs until just before the financial crash of 1857. The model shown under construction represents the H G Berry. She was very similar to the Brig Torrent shown in the picture, and built by Charles Murray and the Seavey brothers in East Boothbay in 1855. She was also the last Boothbay half brig to be launched.  Our local builders had moved on to build barks and ships in those final years leading up to the crash of 1857.  After the crash amongst sailing vessels, only schooners were built here in the Boothbay Region, before the influx of sailing yachts in the 1890's. 

 

During the final boom years of 1853 to 1855, ten brigs, two barks and six ships were launched in either Boothbay Harbor or East Boothbay.  When that financial crash came there were two unfinished barks tied up in the financial distress and yard closures.  A Bath, Maine owner, the Patten family came and paid John McDougall to complete the bark Ivanhoe in East Boothbay and two local owners paid Charles Murray, our lead builder of the half brig HG Berry, to complete the bark  Glen Eden after taking the lumber over to Boothbay Harbor in 1857.
 

[Jond]

77  small sailing half brig is done

 

Now that models are on display, my talk on their history is completed and the shop is cleaned up ready for the next venture, I want to close up this log with two postings.  This one is the small sailing half brig.  Here are several views of her just before she went downtown

  

[Jond]

78. the final shots

 

In this final posting we see the H B Berry completed with crew and the the two brigs together at home and downtown at the Boothbay Region Historical Society for the summer season.

 

 

together

 

 

 

 

[Pale Moon]

Congratulations Jon, on your beautiful ships.

 

Jeff

[ccoyle]

Congratulations! That's two great-looking models.

[Jond]

Thank you for your kind comments.   I am off researching a new era of steel fabrication for my next venture. 
cheers