Looking for photo from The Catboat Book

[Roger Long]

A long time ago, I saw a photo in The Catboat Book (not sure which edition) showing catboats in a harbor on Cape Cod. The center of the photo was a very small cat schooner, 20 - 25 feet with unstayed masts that was described as being the pilot boat for the port. That boat has stuck with me over the years. Now that I messing around with wooden boats again, I might draw it up into something that could be built.

If anyone has the book, knows the picture, and could post or send me a decent resolution scan, I would appreciate it.

[outofthenorm]

Roger, you have great taste. That's one of my favorite images.

- Norm

[rbgarr]

The sheer on that boat looks unexpanded! :D

[Roger Long]

Thanks Terry,

Here's a higher resolution crop:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/images/PilotSchooner.jpg

OK, anyone who doesn't think this would be the cat's meow (I guess that's a pun) for an exciting, challenging, but capable boat, please hold up your hand. A little improvement in the sheer and, wow!

I'm trying to figure out what I can from the photos so I would appreciate any thoughts about the following:

I'm assuming from her Cape Cod heritage and the rig that she is probably fairly beamy. This would be consistent with other pilot boat types.

Despite being a Cape Codder, I can't imagine she is a centerboarder with that rig. Nor would it be necessary for pilot boat service.

The rig appears to be short gaffs with single halyards, Cowhorn style. Foresail loosefooted and overlapping. I don't see any sign of gear for a jib.

Judging from the dinghy, I would think that 22 - 24 feet x a hair under 8 for trailering would a good size for a recreation. She wouldn't be a real trailer boat with a keel as deep as she would probably need but being able to trailer once a year would keep ownership costs down.

Note the interesting mooring arrangement. It appears that there is a staple about mid height on the stem and a simple hook for the mooring pendant.

You may be able to see the photo better at this direct link:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/images/PilotSchooner.jpg

What do you all think?

[Jim Ledger]

Here's a low-res copy of that cat schooner. (I emailed Roger a high-res copy).

http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k365/TerryLava/CatSchooner2.jpg?t=1257973710

That's a great picture.

It's interesting to see how different those cats are from what the type evolved into. The one on the left is pinky sterned. None of them seem to have the barn door rudder, all underslung. The freeboard is much lower than later boats, giving them a very graceful look. The coach roofs show much less crown. The rigs are huge for light air sailing with no engine, with the boom much lower. Much more deck aft of the cockpit and much bigger boats overall.

Dave, good point about that sheerline.;).

[Jim Ledger]

I'd guess that they're well over thirty feet. Probably not as beamy for their length as well, although it's hard to tell from the photo. But they do give an impression of a sleeker shape. Certainly not anything approaching a modern 2/1 ratio.

What about those sails? If a modern twenty five footer has five hundred and fifty with a much smaller rig, those must be at least eight hundred square feet.

Beach stone ballast?

[outofthenorm]

Hard to say of course, but it looks like the maximum beam is a bit abaft the mainmast, and she's pretty sharp forward, maybe even hollow at the waterline. Could be fast.:D

[Roger Long]

What about those sails?

And what about the balance? (Harking back to the recent balance and weather helm threads)

Do you think maybe some of these boats had a bit of helm?

[Roger Long]

The owner of the boat,... mentioned for his life-saving and salvage exploits in historical records.

Any idea where those records are? I'd love to know how long this boat was or anything else about it.

[Daniel Noyes]

beautifull boat

I would look to a Kingston Lobster boat as a possible closest relative hull type, Cat ketch rigged with unstayed masts and popular as work/pleasure/and racing boats about this time, centerboarders with a decent dead wood or built down skeg+ counter stern, Kingston Ma. is right near the Cape.
Dan

PS my favorite photo from the book is the Crosby cat with the reverse curve/long overhangs...and the photo of the racing cat with the long drooping boom at anchor...and the action shot of the cats racing :)

[elf]

All those catboats - what happened to them? Where are they now?

[ShagRock]

All those catboats - what happened to them? Where are they now?

Good question Elf. The link below on the history of Jersey catboats is quite interesting. Lots of old photos and covers history, construction, and design changes over time from working boat, to pleasure craft, racer, to motor boat.

http://www.woodboatbuilder.com/pages/jerseycats.html