Santa Caterina by KLarsen - FINISHED - Scale 1:18

[KLarsen]

This week I started on the mast. It's very different from the one shown in the monograph, which is more adecuate for a large xebec. My mast is simpler, has only one sheave and is about 1cm taller. It took me a few hours to make on my Proxxon lathe. The sheave is from pear and fully works. 

If anyone is interested, this is the book I'm using which explains how the lateen rig works. As far as I know it's only available in Spanish, but if you can read that I highly recommend it. It goes over the history of the lateen sails, how the boats are (and were) constructed, and how to sail them. It mainly focuses on Catalan boats but is useful for any small lateen rigged boat. 
The appendices are especially useful since they go over the calculations required to rig a boat. 

 

[JacquesCousteau]

I've heard a lot of good things about Nuestra vela latina, and in fact ordered a copy recently (I'm hoping to eventually build a Catalonian fishing boat). Out of curiosity, does the book contain any plans or hull lines, or is it just focused on the mast/sail/rigging?

Edited November 12, 2023 by JacquesCousteau

[KLarsen]

6 hours ago, JacquesCousteau said:

I've heard a lot of good things about Nuestra vela latina, and in fact ordered a copy recently (I'm hoping to eventually build a Catalonian fishing boat). Out of curiosity, does the book contain any plans or hull lines, or is it just focused on the mast/sail/rigging?

No, unfortunately it doesn't, though it does explain the construction but not in enough detail to construct a boat. 

Good luck with your project! 

[JacquesCousteau]

5 hours ago, KLarsen said:

No, unfortunately it doesn't, though it does explain the construction but not in enough detail to construct a boat. 

Good luck with your project! 

Thanks! When I build it, I'll definitely be revisiting your build log for inspiration, even if they're different boat types.

[KLarsen]

I'm progressing a lot these days, I just installed the mast and started on the antenna. The way the mast is installed according to the monograph is almost correct, it just needs to be slanted a few more degrees forward (again, because the antenna is longer). I slightly reworked the mast foot since it's supposed to spread over 3-4 frames. It should probably extend further forwards too, but the oar bench support is in the way and I don't want to rework that; it's "good enough" as it is. 😂

[KLarsen]

Getting started on the rigging. I'm using rope from Ropes of Scale, it looks absolutely amazing! 

The blocks are made from black hornbeam. I tried making working pullies for the double blocks but it was impossible for me to cut them at 0,5mm, they simply disintegrated, and I couldn't find any metal pullies at that size to buy. So the tackle is not as smooth as it could be, but it still works. 
The tackle for raising the antenna is again simplified compared to the monograph, which uses blocks with 5 and 6 pullies. 

This block is for seizing the antenna to the mast. Standard thumb for scale (I'm not a giant!). I'm actually surprised I was able to make that on my first try...  

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by KLarsen

[JacquesCousteau]

Great job, especially at that size!

[KLarsen]

More rigging. The book I'm using 'Nuestra Vela Latina' es basically my guide at this point. 
The cross where the antenna is mounted. 
And from another angle. 
This is more or less the angle I'll be displaying the antenna at. Of course I'm also going to make the sail if I can. 
Next will be the rigging to move the antenna sideways. The monograph is completely wrong at this point, I'm honestly surprised how bad it is. The part describing the construction of the hull is great, but the rigging leaves a LOT to be desired. 
I'll see if I can describe all the issues later, maybe writing a full review of the monograph (which I still very much recommend!). 

Edited November 28, 2023 by KLarsen

[JacquesCousteau]

The build is looking great! I'd be very interested in reading a full review of the monograph, it looks like it makes a very nice model but a few people have mentioned issues with it. Given that many (though not all) of its issues seem to stem from the rigging/mast/yard being more appropriate for a larger vessel, I'd be curious to know if the Ancre monographs on the Felucca N.S. del Rosario or the Leudo are any better.

[KLarsen]

From what I can see on the Ancre site the rigging for the N.S. del Rosario is the exact same as for the Santa Caterina. The dimensions might be more correct for a ship of that size, but there are still errors. 
To mention a few (from the Santa Caterina monograph):

The antenna is simply too short, and not rigged correctly. It should be rigged at 2/5 its length, but on the monograph it's rigged at the halfpoint. 

It's upside down. 🙃
The rigging at the lower point of the antenna is completely wrong. There should be a line to hold the antenna at an angle (the davante) which is missing, and a line to move it sideways. That one's kinda there but completely wrong. 
The "lift" to hold the antenna at an angle should be behind the mast (the heaviest part) and not in front as on the monograph. Having it in front makes no sense, you want to lift the heavy part of the antenna, which due to the triangular shape of the sail is behind the mast (also 3/5 of the antenna extends behind). 
And then the monograph has several lines which serve no purpose. Some of them might on a heavier ship, though, my knowledge doesn't extend that far. 

I wouldn't have known any of this if I hadn't read the book 'La Vela Latina' and double checked with photos of real lateen rigged boats. 

[JacquesCousteau]

14 minutes ago, KLarsen said:

From what I can see on the Ancre site the rigging for the N.S. del Rosario is the exact same as for the Santa Caterina. The dimensions might be more correct for a ship of that size, but there are still errors. 
To mention a few (from the Santa Caterina monograph):

The antenna is simply too short, and not rigged correctly. It should be rigged at 2/5 its length, but on the monograph it's rigged at the halfpoint. 

It's upside down. 🙃
The rigging at the lower point of the antenna is completely wrong. There should be a line to hold the antenna at an angle (the davante) which is missing, and a line to move it sideways. That one's kinda there but completely wrong. 
The "lift" to hold the antenna at an angle should be behind the mast (the heaviest part) and not in front as on the monograph. Having it in front makes no sense, you want to lift the heavy part of the antenna, which due to the triangular shape of the sail is behind the mast (also 3/5 of the antenna extends behind). 
And then the monograph has several lines which serve no purpose. Some of them might on a heavier ship, though, my knowledge doesn't extend that far. 

I wouldn't have known any of this if I hadn't read the book 'La Vela Latina' and double checked with photos of real lateen rigged boats. 

That's really interesting, thanks! I actually just received my copy of Nuestra vela latina, it looks extremely useful for this sort of thing.

[KLarsen]

11 minutes ago, JacquesCousteau said:

That's really interesting, thanks! I actually just received my copy of Nuestra vela latina, it looks extremely useful for this sort of thing.

Enjoy it! It really is a great book with some lovely drawings. 

[KLarsen]

This is my first time making sails. It's made from cotton and hand sewn (because I don't have a sewing machine). I know the stitches are probably too big for the scale but still I think it turned out fine. In my opinion the boat looks better with sail than without. 

Taping the sail on to get an idea of how it'll look:Also I tried making a stand that turned out absolutely awful. I used too much watered down glue for the gravel so the edges split:So instead I settled for a more minimalist stand from a stone I picked up last time the local river was dry:This stand has the added benefit that I can put a name plaque on it if I ever get around to making one. 

[KLarsen]

Today I sew the bolt rope onto the sail which means it's almost done, it just needs reinforcements at the corners and the ropes that attaches it to the antenna. It's not perfect but for a first attempt I think it's fine. I'll definitely keep it as it is. 

[KLarsen]

I have more or less finished the boat now. I most likely won't make the bowsprit because apparently it was almost never used on boats smaller than around 9 meters. Also, I wouldn't be able to set the sail in a way that would be realistic like I've done with the main sail. 

I'm also not sure if I'll make an anchor or other equipment. I don't want the boat to look too cluttered. 

I'll still need to tidy the ropes a bit more and make a name plate for the stand. And there are probably a few things to touch up here and there. 

If anyone is interested I can go over the rigging and compare it to the monograph, it might be useful for others thinking of building this boat? Please let me know if it would be of interest! 

 

And of course here are a few pictures. I'll take better ones when I have better light. 

It's been a fun project, and I'm really happy with the result! I still feel it's only 99% complete though, like I've forgot to add something. So this build log isn't finished yet. 😉

[JacquesCousteau]

Wow, that looks great! You really did a fantastic job, the care put into the worksmanship is evident. It's also very interesting how different the rig looks compared with the monograph's rig--I'd love to hear a more systematic comparison, if you're up to write it. Really beautiful build, it makes me want to get the monograph myself (although it seems unlikely that I'll have the time or skills to build it for quite a while, and in any case, my main goal is a Catalonian vessel--I wish Ancre had a monograph for one of those, there are good plans available but the thought of working out the details of every piece from a plan sheet alone is daunting).

[KLarsen]

Thank you! 😊

Don't worry, I'll document the rigging here, though it might be some weeks until I get time for it. 

[KLarsen]

I'll attempt to document the changes I've made to the rigging, especially where I've deviated from the monograph. I only know the names of the rigging in Spanish, and Google Translate isn't of much use with nautical terms, so I hope you can accept the names not being translated. 

 

Tackle for the antenna

As I've already commented earlier, the blocks for the antenna are over dimensioned in the monograph. I've replaced them with double blocks. The way they are attached isn't much different.  

Troza

This is the assembly that can be seen below: a loop that goes around the mast and antenna and tightened via a block. It's attached to the side of the boat with a pair of single blocks (only the upper one is shown). This part is basically correct in the monograph. 

 

Davante

This is the rope that holds the lower part of the antenna down, maintaining the angle with the horizontal. In the monograph this rope is doubled and runs through a single block, belayed to both sides of the boat. I don't think that's correct because it'll only allow the antenna to rotate a little from the longitudinal; in reality it can go as much to 90 degrees (perpendicular to the keel).  

Orzapopa

This is the rope that rotates the antenna from the longitudinal according to the wind and course. This is completely absent from the monograph (possibly confused with the davante above). 

Escota

Not much to say here really, I think this one is self explanatory. It's completely correct in the monograph, except it should go around the stern post. 

Falsa troza

This is the closed loop of rope seen below. It's used to prevent the antenna from seperating too much from the mast when you loosen the rope that holds it tight (the troza), when maneouvering the antenna. It isn't shown or mentioned in the monograph. 

Traba

This one can be seen both on the photo above and below. It's a thin rope that is fastened to the sling holding the antenna, running through a sheave in the butt of the antenna, and back to the other side of the sling. It prevents the antenna from slipping and falling down. This isn't shown in the monograph either. 

Osta

This is the long rope running from the antenna to the side of the boat. It serves as reinforcement for the antenna during strong winds, preventing it from breaking. In the monograph there's one each side and the text says it's to angle the antenna, which in reality is done by the orzapopa. It wouldn't make sense to try and angle the antenna at this point, it would require a lot more force than using the orzapopa in front. 

Cenal

Shown above to the left of the osta, it's used to raise the sail. This is correct on the monograph. 

 

Amantina

This one I've left out. It's a tackle attached to the rear of the antenna and the top of the mast. It's used in heavy seas to help keep the angle of the antenna. According to my sources it was only used occasionally. The monograph has this attached to the front of the antenna, not the rear. This doesn't seem correct to me as the heavy part of the antenna is the rear, which would naturally want to fall down. 

 

Other differences

Compare my rigging to the one of the model in the monograph. This one has a shroud each side of the mast, which I believe was never used on small boats (the troza with its tackle serves as a shroud). There's also a tackle to the very rear of the antenna, maybe for a flag? It also uses a lot more blocks which in my view would be more correct on large ships. 

 

And lastly, a photo of the belaying points. The ropes need a bit more tidying but they won't cooperate. 😂

I hope this is useful! Please keep in mind that I am not an expert at all, most of my knowledge comes from the book Nuestra Vela Latina mentioned above. It's quite possible that I've completely misunderstood the lateen rig and my model is not correct. Still I believe it's an improvement on the monograph. 

 

Edit: Seems that I had a left-over photo. Instead of removing it I'll let you enjoy it. 😜

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by KLarsen

[ccoyle]

It's a beautiful model. Congratulations!

[JacquesCousteau]

49 minutes ago, KLarsen said:

I'll attempt to document the changes I've made to the rigging, especially where I've deviated from the monograph. I only know the names of the rigging in Spanish, and Google Translate isn't of much use with nautical terms, so I hope you can accept the names not being translated. 

 

Tackle for the antenna

As I've already commented earlier, the blocks for the antenna are over dimensioned in the monograph. I've replaced them with double blocks. The way they are attached isn't much different.  

Troza

This is the assembly that can be seen below: a loop that goes around the mast and antenna and tightened via a block. It's attached to the side of the boat with a pair of single blocks (only the upper one is shown). This part is basically correct in the monograph. 

 

Davante

This is the rope that holds the lower part of the antenna down, maintaining the angle with the horizontal. In the monograph this rope is doubled and runs through a single block, belayed to both sides of the boat. I don't think that's correct because it'll only allow the antenna to rotate a little from the longitudinal; in reality it can go as much to 90 degrees (perpendicular to the keel).  

Orzapopa

This is the rope that rotates the antenna from the longitudinal according to the wind and course. This is completely absent from the monograph (possibly confused with the davante above). 

Escota

Not much to say here really, I think this one is self explanatory. It's completely correct in the monograph, except it should go around the stern post. 

Falsa troza

This is the closed loop of rope seen below. It's used to prevent the antenna from seperating too much from the mast when you loosen the rope that holds it tight (the troza), when maneouvering the antenna. It isn't shown or mentioned in the monograph. 

Traba

This one can be seen both on the photo above and below. It's a thin rope that is fastened to the sling holding the antenna, running through a sheave in the butt of the antenna, and back to the other side of the sling. It prevents the antenna from slipping and falling down. This isn't shown in the monograph either. 

Osta

This is the long rope running from the antenna to the side of the boat. It serves as reinforcement for the antenna during strong winds, preventing it from breaking. In the monograph there's one each side and the text says it's to angle the antenna, which in reality is done by the orzapopa. It wouldn't make sense to try and angle the antenna at this point, it would require a lot more force than using the orzapopa in front. 

Cenal

Shown above to the left of the osta, it's used to raise the sail. This is correct on the monograph. 

 

Amantina

This one I've left out. It's a tackle attached to the rear of the antenna and the top of the mast. It's used in heavy seas to help keep the angle of the antenna. According to my sources it was only used occasionally. The monograph has this attached to the front of the antenna, not the rear. This doesn't seem correct to me as the heavy part of the antenna is the rear, which would naturally want to fall down. 

 

Other differences

Compare my rigging to the one of the model in the monograph. This one has a shroud each side of the mast, which I believe was never used on small boats (the troza with its tackle serves as a shroud). There's also a tackle to the very rear of the antenna, maybe for a flag? It also uses a lot more blocks which in my view would be more correct on large ships. 

 

And lastly, a photo of the belaying points. The ropes need a bit more tidying but they won't cooperate. 😂

I hope this is useful! Please keep in mind that I am not an expert at all, most of my knowledge comes from the book Nuestra Vela Latina mentioned above. It's quite possible that I've completely misunderstood the lateen rig and my model is not correct. Still I believe it's an improvement on the monograph. 

 

Edit: Seems that I had a left-over photo. Instead of removing it I'll let you enjoy it. 😜

 

Thanks, this is incredibly interesting! The changes you made give the rig a much more elegant look--and what seems to be a much more accurate one.

[KLarsen]

56 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

It's a beautiful model. Congratulations!

Thank you!

19 minutes ago, JacquesCousteau said:

Thanks, this is incredibly interesting! The changes you made give the rig a much more elegant look--and what seems to be a much more accurate one.

Yeah a lateen rig ought to look elegant. I could have gone for an even longer antenna but I'd have had to make the mast longer too. I think what I ended up with is just right for a fishing boat. The antenna is roughly 1,4 times the length of the boat, it should be between 1,2 and 1,8 with 1,5 being the normal. 

Oh and by the way, the monograph is 0,9 which is just way too short. 

[Paul Le Wol]

KLarsen, congratulations on finishing your Santa Caterina. She and her rigging look exceptional!

[mtaylor]

Lovely model and very well done.   As for the rope problem, paint them with a bit of 50-50 white glue and water.  A small pointy stick (metal or plastic not wood) will hold the shape until the glue/water mixture dries.

[KLarsen]

9 hours ago, Paul Le Wol said:

KLarsen, congratulations on finishing your Santa Caterina. She and her rigging look exceptional!

Thank you!

7 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Lovely model and very well done.   As for the rope problem, paint them with a bit of 50-50 white glue and water.  A small pointy stick (metal or plastic not wood) will hold the shape until the glue/water mixture dries.

I've decided not to glue any of the rigging, I want to be able to change the position of the antenna and maybe even dismantle the rig if I need to transport the model. As it is, even the mast isn't glued in. 

[Niklas]

Very nice model, congratulations! I have also built Caterina but in a larger scale and - as it turns out - with the antenna upside down...

 

Niklas

[KLarsen]

50 minutes ago, Niklas said:

Very nice model, congratulations! I have also built Caterina but in a larger scale and - as it turns out - with the antenna upside down...

 

Niklas

Your amazing model has been of great help to me, I've looked at your album several times while building. Don't worry about the antenna, the monograph is quite consistent in having it upside down so I'd have made the same mistake had I not got other sources 😂

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Very well done!

[Mirabell61]

Very nice looking model,

I like the wooden tone, and the sails

,congrats

 

Nils

[wefalck]

Lovely project and congratulations to have finished it (more or less) as a kind of 'Christmas present' !

 

I had followed the project with sort of one eye from time to time as I got interested in the Spanish boats in the last few years, being a frequent visitor to Valencia. 'Nuestra vela latina' is a book that has been on my list of a while, but haven't got around to get it yet. Isn't it written in Catalan, rather than Castellano ? I got a number of book on local Valencian boats (some of them written in Valenciano!). Otherwise, a more generic and classical source on the lateen rig is:

 

VENCE, J. (1897): Construction & manœuvre des bateaux & embarcations à voilure latine.- 139 p., Paris (Augustin Challamel Editeur, reprint Editios Omega, Nice).

 

However, the author draws mainly on experience from Southern France and Tunisia.

 

Some years ago I wrote an article for the German LOGBUCH and French NEPTUNIA on lateen-rigged boats from the Albufera (a lagoon south of Valencia): https://www.maritima-et-mechanika.org/maritime/albufera/Boats-of-the-Albufera.html. There are also some further references to books/articles about Spanish boats at the bottom of that Web-page.

[KLarsen]

Hi @wefalck,

Very interesting, thank you! I'll see if I can get that French book you mention, I can just about read enough French to hopefully understand it. 

Nuestra Vela Latina is written is Castellano (Spanish) with some of the technical names is Catalan. It's possible it's originally in Catalan, I don't know.