18′ Cutter for Syren — Clinker or Carvel Built?

[glennb17]

Hi everyone,

 

Hi everyone,

I’m currently building Model Shipways’ Brig Syren (1803) kit. While waiting for some bent boards to dry in place, I decided to get a head start on the ship’s boat — the included 18′ cutter.

The kit provides a stack of profile cutouts intended for a bread-and-butter style build. I’ve tried building it this way twice, but so far I’m not satisfied with the results.

I noticed that Vanguard offers a beautifully detailed 1:64 scale 18′ cutter kit, which is essentially the same boat. It’s made of pearwood with photoetched brass details — a nice upgrade. After reviewing its instructions, it appears to simulate a carvel-built hull, with the assumption that you’ll do some fairing and finish the outside with a good coat of paint.

This brings me to my question:

Would an 18′ cutter in 1803 — such as the one carried by Syren — have been clinker or carvel built?

I found one reference stating that British naval cutters were typically clinker-built, except between 1800 and 1820, when carvel construction was used more frequently. Since the U.S. Navy often followed British shipbuilding practices, I’m wondering whether this would have applied to Syren, which was launched in 1803.

I understand that it’s ultimately my choice, and that clinker would be much harder to execute at this scale — but also might look better. Carvel, as described in the Vanguard instructions, would be easier to build and paint cleanly.

So my question to the group is: What would you choose — clinker or carvel — and why?

If you’ve tackled this on your own builds, I’d really appreciate hearing your approach.

 

Thanks in advance!

Glenn

 

[Dr PR]

I built the Vanguard 18 foot cutter kit carvel style because I was using it with a vessel built around 1812. W. E. Mays "The Boats of Men-of-War" discusses the clinker vs carvel built cutters.

[Chapman]

Clinker boats are more difficult to repair, which is probably why the English preferred clinker cutters on board in their home waters rather than on long overseas voyages. I don't know how the Americans handled this. The US frigate Constitution has been quite well researched, and there is a wealth of information on the types of boats used on board.

Author Tyrone G. Martin has compiled such facts in his literature on the Constitution.

The USS Constitution Museum has also collected information on the boats.

[Chapman]

An addendum: I remembered that I have an article about the U.S. Brig Syren 1803.

A Naval Architectural Study of the U.S. Brig Argus. BY W.M.P. DUNNE
Published in the NAUTICAL RESEARCH JOURNAL

Contemporary information exists (Argus Journal of Indents, Naval History Society Collection) on the three boats of the U.S. Brig Argus from 1803. It describes the cutter on board, its size (25 ft) and its equipment (with a well and windlass), but not whether it was a clinker boat.

 

It seems doubtful whether any information about the Syren's boats can be found. Perhaps in the logbook, if it still exists. Based on current knowledge, I would build the cutter with carvel planking.