Anyone know what this is?

[Clipper1701]

This has been in my family for 2+ generations, I remember it once having sails and rigging . . .



She measures 30" long and 5.75" beam



I would guess orange crate wood, but she has a cast lead keel . . .



Thinking pond sailing? 40's or 50's?



Would like to find out more info so I can do proper restoration . . .



Any ideas? Sea elves are getting nervous, might be the real water ahead and not knowing how to swim . . .

[Gunner]

Don't recognize her. Do you have the sail winch servos and any other parts?

[Clipper1701]

This is pre-r/c. There is a way to link the sails and the rudder tiller to make her sail at angles to the wind, I recall it could sail across a pond in a light wind . . . the booms and rigging and sails are missing at the present time, as I look through my dad's old stuff they may surface . . .

[RichardPF]

This is pre-r/c. There is a way to link the sails and the rudder tiller to make her sail at angles to the wind, I recall it could sail across a pond in a light wind . . . the booms and rigging and sails are missing at the present time, as I look through my dad's old stuff they may surface . . .

Most boats of this type were controlled with a wind vane steering mechanism.

The invention of the mechanism is usually credited to Nathaniel Herreshoff sometime in the 1870's.

You can read about the various types of these controls in many places on the web, but here is a link to a group that you will likely find helpful.

[David Manley]

We used to have something very similar. My youngest currently has his uncle's old model sailing boat, although we recently bought him a brand spanking new r/c yacht as well.

[Clipper1701]

Most boats of this type were controlled with a wind vane steering mechanism.

The invention of the mechanism is usually credited to Nathaniel Herreshoff sometime in the 1870's.

You can read about the various types of these controls in many places on the web, but here is a link to a group that you will likely find helpful.

This has been quite helpful, now I know a lot less about my ship/boat! It is an interesting hobby that goes way back into the 1800's and I really want to know more, thanks for the link and the game is afoot!

[Gunner]

Let us know if you ever make her seaworthy.

[Clipper1701]

Just had a great visit with my dad, it seems the ship was made by a relative/friend of his parents for a birth gift to him in 1932. I am trying it discern if it was a kit or a Popular Mechanics type plan in those days. He remembers clearly the occasions of learning to sail it with the maker's help in the farm pond when he was very small-around 5-6 years old. He has fond memories of those days and has promised to sketch out the rigging and sail patterns for me while I visit him over Christmas, he is in his 80's now and remembers it quite vividly! All the more important that I get the restoration correct! While doing some research I found an earlier version with four masts and full square rigging! All the sails are linked to a cable system to the rudder to keep the ship on course in a light wind! How cool is that!





Length is 42" . . . . hmmm . . .

[RichardPF]

The model that you have has a close resemblance to the lines of the original yacht America that contested the original Americas Cup in 1851.
The lines of this vessel would have been quite well known at the time your model was built.



Ships of this nature tended to be rigged as Gaff Schooners.

The design lead to a group of vessels that were used as smugglers and smuggler chasers in the latter half of the 19th century.
A few of these did have square topsails.

You might try Googling the term "Baltimore Clipper" to see some possible rigging designs that you might use.