Need information about a rig for sharpie

[donald branscom]

Dear members i am building a 3ft. model of the modified sharpie shown in the book "BOATBUILDING" by Howard chappelle.
I would like any information about the rig on this boat.
I only know its a schooner but would like more info.

Sincerely, Don

[David Geiss]

Don...the Chesapeak Maritime Musuem sells a great little booklet by Chappelle in which he discusses Bay crabbing skiffs and their rigs.
It's a great little treasure.

Best,
David

[Robert - Hoopers Island MD]

Which boat is this or what page is it on in boatbuilding?

[Steve Paskey]

Hi Donald: Are you referring to the 36-foot modified sharpie on page 57? If so, it's hard to guess what Chappelle intended, as it's not a traditional type.

The hull of Chapelle's design is based on a old sharpie yawl named Minocqua, built I think by Thomas Clapham in 1892. Reul Parker has a version of Minocqua:
http://www.parker-marine.com/sh38m1.jpg

Chapelle's rig, though, is obviously different, as the mizzen mast is quite a bit farther forward -- she's a ketch, not a yawl.

Your best bet would be to get a copy of Chapelle's plans from the Smithsonian Museum's watercraft collection -- I assume the Smithsonian would have the sail plan in addition to the lines. I don't recall the details for ordering plans, but the cost is minimal.

On the other hand, if you haven't yet gone too far with the model, you could rig the boat like Minocqua. If you do that, you'd probably want to get Parker's THE SHARPIE BOOK -- a great resource with drawings of Minocqua and other two-masted sharpies.

[donald branscom]

Reply to Steve Paskey -

Thanks for the info. I sent for the plans from the Smithsonian and
only recieved one drawing which was in the book. Page 57.
They did not tell me there were any other drawings, or ask for more money to get more info. They said nothing other than to say that i made them "go to the library because I did not have the plate number."

If they said there were any other drawings I would have gladly sent them the money.

Sincerely , Don

[boatlover]

Donald,

If you want to stick with the schooner rig for the modified sharpie, there are two sources that may help:

1) Chapelles "AMERICAN SMALL SAILING CRAFT" has a schooner rigged Gulf Coast scow. The general profile view (above the water line) resembles the modified sharpie schooner.

2) Parkers "SHARPIE BOOK" (?) has a profile and deck plan for a Chesapeake terrrapin smack, which is schooner rigged. The profile of the bow is not like the modified sharpy, but the proportions of the rig might be useful to you. The plan in Parkers book is also by Chapelle.

The Snithsonian may have more plans for those two designs. I will look them up in the catalog - which I have been meaning to do anyway. I seem to remember from somewhere that the only drawing they have for the modified sharpie is what you already have. I will chaeck that too.

Regards,

- Ed R

[Steve Paskey]

Donald: Why do you think the boat is schooner rigged, rather than ketch rigged? I'm curious, because I didn't see anything in "Boatbuilding" that mentioned one rig or the other.

[boatlover]

Steve:
While page 57 does not say so, the placing of the two masts - fore about 25% and main about 60% - of the waterline aft of the fore end of the waterline, pretty clearly indicates a schooner rig.

Donald:

The Smithsonian catalog indicates just one plan sheet for the modified sharpie. You already have that.

There is only one sheet also for the Maryland Terrapin Smack.
Plan # T-77 (no plate number); ( $3 ); lines, deck plan, spar dimensions. Scale: 3/4" = 1'


The Gulf Coast Scow Schooner has two sheets:
Plan # ASSC-120, Plate # 120-333, ( $5 ); lines, deck plan, details, sail-spar-rigging plan, scantlings; scale 1/2" = 1'
Plan # ASSC-120A, Plate # 120-355; ( $3 ) offsets

HTH !

Regards,

- Ed R

[Todd Bradshaw]

My initial reaction from looking at the plan, the centerboard position and gut feelings about the CLP and possible CE locations was more ketch than schooner. Also, the aft mast seems to be smaller in diameter than the foremast. It just looks to me like a big sail aft might put the overall CE too far aft to work with that centerboard placement. I wondered whether the aft sail's foot and boom might actually be relatively short. Haven't quite figured out the shroud situation though, with that placement of the deadeyes.

[donald branscom]

Reply to BOATLOVER:
thanks for all the information and the help.
I really appreciate this.

I am planking the hull now and I am thinking ahead about the placment of the masts.

The design with the mizzen looks better but makes a lot of weight
at the end of the boat. It is a narrow boat too.
I am thinking it would be good if the rear mast was moved back to about 3 ft. in back of the cabin house. But I don't know all about CE's etc.,.

I don't know if it was schooner or ketch I am just guessing.
I don't like the offset hatch required for the drawing of this boat.
Once i was in a boat that got knocked down and a offset hatch
could have caused flooding. Luckiky the boat came back up in just
a couple of seconds. The boat is so narrow the offset hatch would be a problem in the interior I think.
Just some thoughts.

Thanks, Don

[Zane Lewis]

I have the plans from the Smithsonian for the HIC Modified Sharpie Schooner. They are titled 36 and 38 foot modified Sharpie Schooner and it looks identical to the one I think you are talking about. This includes construction and rig details. Dated 1942 so 2 years earlier than the one in the book at 1944.
There is a note on them statinig that they are a revision of an earlier plan for internal ballast.
The rig is a generouos Schooner rig off approx. Headsail 100 sqft, Foresail 180 sqft Main 270 sqft. 550sqft in the 3 lowers
The only querry I have with these plans is that the lines drawing appears to have an error at stations 7-9 at the gunnel where the flare in the side suddenly reduces and then steps back out.
Includes mast rake and spar details etc.
Cheer'
Zane

[donald branscom]

I think I may have found a solution. What do you think?

I cannot figure out how to picture on this post Sorry.

it was:

Sh 28 sharpie egret