Gjøa 1872 by Harvey Golden - Roald Amundsen's Cutter built at Rosedahl, Norway

[Paul Le Wol]

Beautiful work Harvey!. The crow’s nest is superb 

[Harvey Golden]

1 hour ago, Paul Le Wol said:

Beautiful work Harvey!. The crow’s nest is superb 

Thank you Paul.  It looked very lovely with natural cedar, black iron bands (paper, actually), and raised rivets (glue dots) . . . was saddened to see the original was painted(!)

[Harvey Golden]

Getting the bowsprit rigged. I'm using the smallest ring bolts I could find, but still had to clip them open and resize them.  Also had to trim the threaded end for length-- real fun trying to screw one in with the point gone!

[Harvey Golden]

I need assistance.  As I get down the nuts and bolts of the rigging, I'm finding the plans I'm working from are wholly inadequate (and often contradict each other); Wefalck has generously shared images of the Gjöa, which has been an incredible help for the deck fittings and much of the bow rigging-- this model would be a mere caricature without his help.  Poking around, it seems the Model Shipways Plans may be what I'm looking for, but I can't find the company on-line.  I see some of their plans are sold by Model-Expo, but no sign of the Gjöa there. Can anyone point me in the right direction?   I'm happy to purchase a used set, if someone has them laying around.  Many thanks in advance!    -Harvey

[vossiewulf]

1 hour ago, Harvey Golden said:

it seems the Model Shipways Plans may be what I'm looking for, but I can't find the company on-line.  I see some of their plans are sold by Model-Expo, but no sign of the Gjöa there

Model Shipways is part of Model Expo. I would reach out to them and see what the printing/availability status is for this set particular set of plans.

[wefalck]

I would check first, whether the plans show her as in preservation. As far as I remember the rig was cut down to fit into the exhibition hall.

[Harvey Golden]

14 hours ago, vossiewulf said:

Model Shipways is part of Model Expo. I would reach out to them and see what the printing/availability status is for this set particular set of plans.

Thank you Vossiewulf-- I wondered if that might be the case.  I will try that!

 

11 hours ago, wefalck said:

I would check first, whether the plans show her as in preservation. As far as I remember the rig was cut down to fit into the exhibition hall.

Thank you Wefalck.  I've seen a low-res image of the plans, and I think they will still be especially helpful. I had noticed in your photos that the upper portions weren't photographed, but then I saw in museum pics that the upper portions aren't there(!)  I've noted several discrepancies between how she is set up now versus how she appeared on the voyage, e.g. two yards versus one on the voyage-- the kits seem to all have two square yards. It's a blessing she was preserved, but she is quite stripped down, and indeed cut down as you said.  It all keeps the process interesting!

[wefalck]

Yep, I wasn't interested in the rig in museum configuration. I was more interested in the deck arrangements etc.

[Harvey Golden]

I heard back from Model Expo-- they have nothing available (plans) and said the Gjöa kit is discontinued.  I may DM other builders or wing it. 

[wmherbert]

I  see old Gjoa kits come up fairly often on ebay

[Harvey Golden]

Hello All! Still at it. . .  I finally sourced the info I needed for the rigging, so I'll be tackling that with more energy.  For such a big detailed model I decided to up-my-game a bit: I've ordered rigging line from Ropes of Scale, which are simply incredible compared to the line I had been using (various weights of thread, etc.). Also, I've decided on Silkspan sails-- I've bought enough to do the Gjöa, as well as to re-do a number of my older models. For practice with the Silkspan, I made sails for the skiff and faering.  I've brailed them up, as shown in the photo below (I've also added oarlocks, oars, and even rivet-heads to the faering, which look quite good [just dots of glue]).  I'm still uncertain if I'll have the Gjöa's sails up or drawn in-- I suppose that's a great advantage of Silkspan, as you can decide after they've been made up. 

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work! The rivet heads are a great detail, just visible enough without looking out-of-scale.

[wefalck]

Slikspan is the way to go. The sails look very good!

 

[Arlo M]

Hello,

I'm a new member of the forum, exclusively because of this thread. I'm a student currently writing a play about a voyage through the Northwest Passage on a boat made to emulate Amundsen's Gjøa, and this thread has hands down been the greatest source of information and images of the Gjøa and boats like her. The model building and painting you do is absolutely gorgeous, Harvey!

 

I am super curious about the seamanship and daily operations of the Gjøa, and was wondering if any of you could suggest somewhere for me to look, short of physically going to somewhere like the Fram Museum or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Anything like websites, books, or articles?

[Srodbro]

See Harvey’s post #1 ( there is an English version of Northwest Passage) and the book The Last Viking by Stephen Brown. 

[Srodbro]

Here’s a quote from Brown’s book:

 

”As the days grew darker and colder, the men tried to prepare themselves psychologically for the dreaded monotony of the long winter they faced living in the deserted, frozen expanse under a dome of perpetual dark. The daily routine, as far as anyone could predict, would consist of magnetic observations, hunting, taking care of the dogs and feeding themselves, with only a few extended excursions to pass the many months. The members of the small band had already grown tired of each others’ company, and with little to occupy them once winter set in, the lack of new company proved to be the greatest challenge.”

 

Add to that the discovery of blond haired, blue-eyed Inuit several years later …

Yeah … plenty there to dramatize!

[Harvey Golden]

23 hours ago, Arlo M said:

I am super curious about the seamanship and daily operations of the Gjøa, and was wondering if any of you could suggest somewhere for me to look, short of physically going to somewhere like the Fram Museum or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Anything like websites, books, or articles?

Thank you for the kind comments, Arlo! As mentioned by Steve, his popular account is in re-print (two volumes).  His private journals are a superb accompaniment-- there's a photo of the book cover on the first post in this thread.  Best, H-

[Arlo M]

Thank you so much for the recommendation on "The Last Viking," that quote is super helpful! I'm already requesting a copy of Amundsen's Diaries, and I found out that the Library of Congress has volumes 1 & 2 of Roald Amundsen's "The Northwest Passage."

 

I'm sorry to have derailed the thread away from the model Gjøa, but this is the only place online I've seen people currently talking about Amundsen's Northwest Passage voyage and I got super excited.

[petervisser]

Hi Harvey. I just ran across your excellent build log of the Gjoa. Thought you might be interested in the actual village where Roald spent some time in Canada's Arctic. I was last there in 2003 aboard the Canadian icebreaker, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and went ashore with my watch partner Ed. We had a wonderful time walking the tundra and exploring the derelict boats nearby the village. Here's some pic's of what it's like in the high Arctic.

 

[Harvey Golden]

2 hours ago, petervisser said:

Hi Harvey. I just ran across your excellent build log of the Gjoa. Thought you might be interested in the actual village where Roald spent some time in Canada's Arctic. I was last there in 2003 aboard the Canadian icebreaker, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and went ashore with my watch partner Ed. We had a wonderful time walking the tundra and exploring the derelict boats nearby the village. Here's some pic's of what it's like in the high Arctic.

Thanks Ed! Looks like some interesting old boats around town-- 'Peterhead' boats, I suppose?  I'd love to get up there someday; I've been to Nunavut, but on the East Side of Baffin Island.  It's an incredible place!

[Harvey Golden]

Hello All! The rigging is progressing nicely, albeit two steps forward, one step back.  The boats on the quarters are hung; it's a little odd, but they quite conceal the Gjøa's name board. A discrepancy of where the crow's nest was has been resolved: My plans had it 10' higher than is shown on other drawings; historic photos showed I needed to lower it.  Also started in on weathering the hull: It was Golden brand acrylic Red Oxide, which I've just gone over with a brown wash; it'll get a gray wash then some green sponging, then white sponging.  The squaretail yard is coming along, as is the gaff and boom.  I noticed some historic images of Gjøa (during her famous transit) do show the square topsail in place, so I'l be making that as well. Here she is today-- loving the Ropes of Scale line; I've replaced the backstays with it.

 

[Glen McGuire]

Looking very nice, Harvey!

[Lecrenb]

On 3/14/2025 at 12:27 PM, Arlo M said:

Hello,

I'm a new member of the forum, exclusively because of this thread. I'm a student currently writing a play about a voyage through the Northwest Passage on a boat made to emulate Amundsen's Gjøa, and this thread has hands down been the greatest source of information and images of the Gjøa and boats like her. The model building and painting you do is absolutely gorgeous, Harvey!

 

I am super curious about the seamanship and daily operations of the Gjøa, and was wondering if any of you could suggest somewhere for me to look, short of physically going to somewhere like the Fram Museum or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Anything like websites, books, or articles?

If it is not too late for your play, get a copy of James Delgado's book "Arctic Workhorse" from the Vancouver Maritime Museum's gift shop.

It gives a good description of RCMP schooner St. Roch's time in Arctic service including both her NW passage transits, and the life of her crew on board.

Regards,

Bruce LeCren

 

[Harvey Golden]

Hello all! Am still at it despite being busy with many other projects. It has taken a while to wrap my head around the silksspan-for-sails on what is a very large model.  I started with the Gjöa's square sail, which will be furled; it's visible in the photo, un-furled and not cut full-size. I need to brush up on how to properly furl a squaresail; I must have been sick the day they covered it in middle school.  I've painted up enough paper for the Gjöa's sails, using a roller as-per Tom Lauria on youtube. The jib and flying jib are cut so far. 

A good way (for me) to get a hang of these sails was to re-rig old models I had laying about.  Here is a Garvey from Barnegat Bay, N.J. built from Chapelle's drawing in "American Small Sailing Craft" (modified slightly to represent a full-size version I built). I chucked the old cloth sail and put this one on:

It's got separate edge pieces glued on, penciled panel lines, roped edging, and a few patches here and there for good measure. Practice makes passable . . . hopefully!

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work on the sails, the garvey looks great as well!

Edited July 27 by JacquesCousteau

[Harvey Golden]

1 hour ago, JacquesCousteau said:

Nice work on the sails, the garvey looks great as well!

Thank you!  I'm definitely warming up to Silkspan. 

[Lecrenb]

On 7/27/2025 at 2:27 PM, Harvey Golden said:

Thank you!  I'm definitely warming up to Silkspan. 

I am going to be soon learning how to make silkspan sails as well, furled, for my St. Roch... I have David Antscherl's sail making Appendix, part of his Sphinx series of books... I'll keep looking in and see how you're doing!

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Harvey Golden]

The Flying Jib and Jib are up! The panel lines pattern is modeled after that shown on the 1950 Model Shipways plans . . . I hope they're correct, as I've also seen them represented bisected/joined at the clew, perpendicular to the luff (forgive the poor description...). I can't recall seeing photos of the Gjøa with her rig up, at least not ones clear enough to see the panel lines. Two historic paintings (by Fredrik Sørvig) of the Gjøa do show panel lines like on the MS plans, though the paintings were done well before Amundsen bought it in 1901 (The paintings are reproduced in Amundsen's Diaries, 2017; Fram Museum). Here she is: 

As you can see, the foresail is also in progress.  While I have copies of the 1950 plans, I do not have instructions and there is a term on the sheeting/pin-rail plans that I am not familiar with, and can't seem to turn it up anywhere: "Ørefiken."  The term on the plans is keyed to belaying pins on port and starboard, just behind the pins marked for the Squaresail Tack; the starboard pin related to the mystery term is shown below.  Any ideas, or better yet, a definition?

Another question I am struggling with is in regards to how the foresail is sheeted to the traveler.  I'm inferring that a double block with an end ring is hooked to the clew, and the line runs through a single(?) block hooked to a ring on the traveler, but where does the fall go?  Any help will be most welcome!  In other news, I've learned (for next time) to put mast hoops on before the trucks, stays, crow's nest, and shrouds are in place 😉   H-

[Lecrenb]

10 hours ago, Harvey Golden said:

The Flying Jib and Jib are up! The panel lines pattern is modeled after that shown on the 1950 Model Shipways plans . . . I hope they're correct, as I've also seen them represented bisected/joined at the clew, perpendicular to the luff (forgive the poor description...). I can't recall seeing photos of the Gjøa with her rig up, at least not ones clear enough to see the panel lines. Two historic paintings (by Fredrik Sørvig) of the Gjøa do show panel lines like on the MS plans, though the paintings were done well before Amundsen bought it in 1901 (The paintings are reproduced in Amundsen's Diaries, 2017; Fram Museum). Here she is: 

As you can see, the foresail is also in progress.  While I have copies of the 1950 plans, I do not have instructions and there is a term on the sheeting/pin-rail plans that I am not familiar with, and can't seem to turn it up anywhere: "Ørefiken."  The term on the plans is keyed to belaying pins on port and starboard, just behind the pins marked for the Squaresail Tack; the starboard pin related to the mystery term is shown below.  Any ideas, or better yet, a definition?

Another question I am struggling with is in regards to how the foresail is sheeted to the traveler.  I'm inferring that a double block with an end ring is hooked to the clew, and the line runs through a single(?) block hooked to a ring on the traveler, but where does the fall go?  Any help will be most welcome!  In other news, I've learned (for next time) to put mast hoops on before the trucks, stays, crow's nest, and shrouds are in place 😉   H-

Can't say for sure about Gjoa, but on St. Roch there is a cleat adjacent to the traveller for belaying the sheet. This cleat does not show up on kit plans... perhaps pictures from the Fram museum, or asking them on email, might help?

 

Nice job on the sails, I hope mine turn out as nice!

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Steggen]

Harvey,

 

Being Norwegian I will try to help out with the term "ørefiken". The word it self translated to English means "Ear fig".  In nautical terms of cause it has a completely different meaning.

 

I´m no expert on rigging and struggle a bit with the correct terms in English, but if you look at page 71 in the linked document you will find an illustration of the "ørefik". This document is a technical and historical documentation of the restoration of the jakt Jelse. It´s in Norwegian but it may be possible to do an automatic translation. The boat Jelse is older (1766) than Gjøa but was rebuilt in both 1861 and 1898 so it should be relevant for how Gjøa was rigged originally.

 

https://fartoyvern.no/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/5-21_Jelse_THD_v1_MH-SS.pdf