Ron's Model Sailboats
It took three years but in May 2011 Ron
finally finished the Skipjack sailboat model. (Model is 20.5" in height,
and 21" in length, scale: 7/16" = 1'.) He started it when he had a
busted knee.
Skipjack - Ron made all the rigging functional.
It is displayed with the sails down since is will be
in front of another model, but if needed the sails can be raised just like a
real Skipjack. There is about 100 hours in it.
A Skipjack was used to dredge for oysters on
the Chesapeake (late 19th and early 20th century.) Law
required this to be done while under sail, so it had very large sails to work
even in light winds. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipjack_(boat) .
Skipjack - Detail photos are about twice actual
size.
Skipjack
Skipjack
Other Sailboats
Ron did this one 1993 when he had a busted
ankle. This is a Flattie, a turn of the 20th century, flat-bottomed,
shallow draft work boat. They were used along the coast of Virginia and North
Carolina to carry produce and for hauling oysters from shallow flats and bars.
(Scale 3/8" = 1')
Flattie - A little more detail.
Final display.
Ron and Carol built this functional model in
the 70s. Note the large weight on the keel that keeps it upright. Size is 17
in. by 26 in., including keel.
In the 80's Ron did a two plastic ship models:
The Cutty Sark and The Constitution. They were given
away as gifts. (Ron and Carol have been lucky enough to seen both of the actual
boats!)