Shipbuilding

Sheerlegs are two long spars lashed together in an upside-down V, used as a crane to lift heavy loads. In this case, the sheerlegs are lifting the massive main mast onto the schooner before launching.

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 170. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.

Capt. Lincoln Alden Colcord's cabin on board the Boston owned bark Harvard. The woodwork was a product of her Newburyport builders, while the rattan furniture and other items were bought in China. At sea, much of this would be put away. Cabin interiors were built by special carpenters called joiners who often set up the paneling in a shop ashore.

This photograph was taken in 1894 when the ship was in port by Capt. Colcord's brother-in-law, Frederick Sweetser.

This diagram shows the planked hull, including how the butt ends of the planking are staggered for greatest strength. Planks get narrower as they approach the bow.

From Capt. H. Paasch, Illustrated Marine Encyclopedia, 1890, Plate 9.

Hawsing iron, used in shipbuilding for caulking seams, particularly deck seams. The long handle allowed one caulker to stand holding the iron while another drove the caulking home using a two-handed mallet. The caulking had been previous set in place using a small mallet and a hand-held iron. Deck seams are especially difficult to caulk and keep tight as the sun dries out and shrinks decks.

This diagram shows how a seam between planks of a ship are caulked with oakum, which is forced into the seam with a caulking iron. Four or more strands of caulking may be needed to fill the seam. There are different widths of caulking irons which are used depending on the width of the seam and how deep the caulking is driven.

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 154. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.

A need for shipping in World War I revived the Maine schooner building industry. No schooners were finished before the war's end but they sailed into the 1930s. This provided the last opportunity for photographers to record large wooden shipbuilding.

Here a completed double-sawn frame is lifted into place on the keel. The frame is assembled flat ahead of the row of frames, then tackles fixed to previously erected frames are used to raise up the new frame.

Treenails were used as fasteners for shipbuilding. They were often made of locust wood. They were less expensive than bolts for fastening, and they made tight connections. The treenail is like a large dowel, pounded into a hole drilled through the pieces of wood to be fastened together, and set by pounding wedges into both ends, so that the treenail will not come out. Treenails were often called "trunnels."

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 145. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.

After the planned vessel's hull is modeled using the carved half model, the lifts are taken apart and measured. The shape of the hull is laid out full size, a process called lofting, on a large floor. From the lofting of the frames, shipbuilders make molds or patterns, which are used to select and shape frame timbers made of parts called futtocks.

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 95. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.

This diagram shows how a half model is used to design a ship. This lift model is made of a number of lifts or layers of wood, pinned together. The model is then carved. After the model has its final shape, the model is taken apart and the lifts measured. Vessels designed this way are usually said to be modeled rather than designed.

This image is from Basil Greenhill and Sam Manning, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship, 1988, p. 91. Used by permission of the artist, Sam Manning.