Model Ship Builder - Brian McQuillan

Whaleboat II

Whaleboats in the New Bedford area on the U.S. east coast were built in the 19th century by the tens of thousands, during that whaling period.  Very few examples remain but there are full size copies at Mystic Seaport and the New Bedford whaling museum.  Anyone contemplating making a whaleboat, would do well to buy a copy of  Erik A. R. Ronnbergs book "To build a Whaleboat" and plans from Model Shipways.

This particular boat was scratch built to double the size of the plans.  Wood used for this project was poplar for the hull and walnut for the shearstrake.  The accessories, harpoons, water casks etc. were made of cherry.   The lumber was ripped on my tablesaw and sanded to size on my home made thickness sander.   It is a nice boat to build and with Ronnbergs book and plans it is tough  to go wrong.

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