Presented is a beautifully built pond yacht
hull made using traditional plank on frame construction important information added in italics. It
is so finely made and built like a real sailing craft that it must have been built by a master shipbuilder. The
hull is made by nailing a series of planks called “strakes” on a frame of sawn ribs that are mounted crosswise on
the keelson with beams across at deck level. The ribs are placed at three inch centers. At the very bow is a screw standing
1/8 inch above the deck level, and 6 inches behind it is a metal strap. These markers can be seen in a number of the photographs.
Taken together, both these items were likely used to hold a bowsprit in place. The hull is shaped in accordance with
the plans which give the desired profile shape. The inside shows dried old paint and some accumulation of grit and
grime again adding to look of a many years old derelict. Due to this model’s
age, many of the joints between the strakes have dried out and leave a small gap between the adjoining planks adding
to a look of a boat yard derelict.
hull made using traditional plank on frame construction important information added in italics. It
is so finely made and built like a real sailing craft that it must have been built by a master shipbuilder. The
hull is made by nailing a series of planks called “strakes” on a frame of sawn ribs that are mounted crosswise on
the keelson with beams across at deck level. The ribs are placed at three inch centers. At the very bow is a screw standing
1/8 inch above the deck level, and 6 inches behind it is a metal strap. These markers can be seen in a number of the photographs.
Taken together, both these items were likely used to hold a bowsprit in place. The hull is shaped in accordance with
the plans which give the desired profile shape. The inside shows dried old paint and some accumulation of grit and
grime again adding to look of a many years old derelict. Due to this model’s
age, many of the joints between the strakes have dried out and leave a small gap between the adjoining planks adding
to a look of a boat yard derelict.
The streamlined shape of the hull originally made us think of a “J Class” racing yacht, but the addition of fittings for abowsprit puts it in an entirely different category. The Universal Rule to which the J Class was designed was adopted
in 1920. The class was selected for America’s Cup racing in 1928. But a bowsprit installed on the model
easily dates it back into the mid to last half of the 19th Century.
Consequently, the model likely replicates any of the international large size racing
yachts prior to 1900. This would include any of the yachts in the America’s Cup 1893-1903 Class, known as the great 90-footers, and
could include some earlier ones that had a single mast. The vessels in this class with a 90 foot waterline length were:
yachts prior to 1900. This would include any of the yachts in the America’s Cup 1893-1903 Class, known as the great 90-footers, and
could include some earlier ones that had a single mast. The vessels in this class with a 90 foot waterline length were:
Pictured is COLUMBIA of 1899.
1893 VIGILANT vs. VALKYRIE II
1895 DEFENDER vs. VALKYRIE III
1899 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK
1901 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK II
1895 DEFENDER vs. VALKYRIE III
1899 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK
1901 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK II
