This weekend I have been catching up with projects underway within "my backyard".
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The 'Spirit of Massachusetts' now has her masts stepped again
and the re-rigging is underway. She is back at her temporary berth at the State Fish pier:
Photo: September 26, 2009 [Fullsize]
We note the long mainsail boom extending beyond the stern, the upper gaffsail boom and the associated rigging, with multiple blocks
for easier sail handling by the schooner's crew. The boatswain ('bosun' to the crew) expects another week of
work to finish up the rigging. Then it's time for a final USCG inspection.
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These models of beautiful Chaisson and Annisquam skiffs were
recently completed by Ernie Tarr:
Photo: Courtesy of the Cape Ann Modeler's Guild (2006)
Ernie is now retired but was, for decades, a master shipwright at the Montgomery Boatyard out on the
Annisquam River.
This relatively short tidal river connects the Gulf of Maine (north) with Massachussetts Bay (south),
and thus seperates Cape Ann from the mainland - so we actually are living on an island. The Gloucester locals talk about "going over the bridge", in some cases only rarely, to the shopping malls down on Route 128.
I have been thinking about building a skiff next Summer - with assistance from an experienced
wooden boat builder Capt. Matt (see below). So I attended the monthly meeeting of the Modeler's Guild with the
idea of first constructing an accurate scale model of the intended skiff.
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Literally right in my backyard, at the marina, Capt. Matt is at work on his boat that he has named
'Jette' (pronounced
YEH-tah).
It's a Danish female name meaning mighty or strong, to honor Matt's family heritage. This boat is based upon a
fishing boat that was built on Bornholm Island (Denmark) in 1900:
Photo: September 26, 2009
Started in 2002, as a part-time project, she is 27' long with a beam of a little more than 10' and a
hull depth (draft plus freeboard) of about 3-1/2'.
The lapstrake construction follows the original Danish plan, and will be discussed in more detail in
follow-up posts.
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The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center maintains both classic
fishing dories (foreground) and a pair of pilot gigs - as shown here:
Photo: September 26, 2009
There is a dory shop at the Center in which Geno Mondello builds both rowing and sailing dories, as time allows - he's
also a lobsterman.
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So, until next time...
