Mystic Seaport Boat Plans catalog

[Ben Fuller]

Folks, I have engaged to do a catalog much like the WB plans catalogs of the plans that are on the plans lists at Mystic.... selected for smaller boats under 20' stuff that people really build or ought (IMHO) to build.

It would be nice to illustrate it with pics of completed boats and even some stories of same.

So Forumites, I would much appreciated it if you would let me know or the forum know of boats that have been built from plans obtained from the seaport.

Need to move quickly on this as we want the catalog out by June. If this is successful exploration of other chunks of the collection may follow.

Thanks

Ben Fuller

[Bayboat]

Ben: What great news. It will be really nice to have a catalog of Mystic plans.
At our boatbuilding school we are building a Bailey Whitehall from Mystic's plans, but lapstrake rather than carvel. The backbone is done, the ribbands are on, and we will start bending frames soon. She will be a captain's gig for a 100' 3-masted schooner, the Denis Sullivan, completed late last year by Wisconsin Lake Schooner Education Association. The boatbuilding, called Schooner Boat Works, is part of the educational program. If you would like to communicate, my e-mail is cre@execpc.com.

Incidentally, on your recommendation I did buy a knife from Mudd Sharrigan--it's a beauty.

[Wild Dingo]

Ben... Thats great news! Keep us up to speed on how it all goes.

Take it easy
Shane

[PugetSound]

However you format it, don't forget that the part of the Woodenboat Catalog(s) of plans that gets used the most is the full (i.e. 8 1/2 x 11) page of lines drawings with which to study the boat. There is nothing more frustrating than to be presented with an offer of plans for sale and the only info given is the basic dimensions and a photograph. In order of importance the lines drawing (shear, half-breadth, plan) comes first; everything else is strictly secondary.

[Ben Fuller]

Thanks for the encouragement; I need some builders!

The whole point of the catalog will be to publish lines and construction. Since the plans were not formatted the way that WB plans were formatted we will need to push elements around on the page and obviously offsets will not be part of the published materials. I plan to do some grouping and comment on why one pod for example may be better than another.

[Howard Gmelch]

Ben, You probably have enough pics of "Good Little Skiffs" (Pete Culler), but if not, I have one that I built a dozen years ago, sold then bought back and restored last year. Let me know if you're interested. Also, when you do the catalog, be sure to inform potential builders of the irritating quirky rules that Mystic has on their plans. Howard

Originally posted by Ben Fuller:
Folks, I have engaged to do a catalog much like the WB plans catalogs of the plans that are on the plans lists at Mystic.... selected for smaller boats under 20' stuff that people really build or ought (IMHO) to build.

It would be nice to illustrate it with pics of completed boats and even some stories of same.

So Forumites, I would much appreciated it if you would let me know or the forum know of boats that have been built from plans obtained from the seaport.

Need to move quickly on this as we want the catalog out by June. If this is successful exploration of other chunks of the collection may follow.

Thanks

Ben Fuller

[TomRobb]

Irritating, quirky rules?

[Howard Gmelch]

Most plan vendors specify that for the fee you get to build one boat. Extra copies of plans for the work shop are at cost or you can reproduce them yourself, as long as you only build one boat. Mystic does not allow reproduction of plans for ANY purpose but will sell you additional copies at full plans price! Also, they say that plans are for study purposes only yet they ruin them with a large RED STAMP of their rules right on the plan. Some of us see the art in boats and like to hang the plans on a wall for times of contemplation. The BIG RED STAMP is irritating.

[Keith Wilson]

Please, please, oh please, (couldn't find an image of a smilie down on its knees begging) put in at least some of the plans by Albert Strange that the museum has in its collection, particularly the smaller canoe yawls.

[Will]

I'll bet most builders would be willing to send the mould patterns as well .They can hardly consider them proprietary .

[TomRobb]

Doesn't allow reproduction? Kinko's seldom asks what you're copying or why and they don't fade in the sun as blueprints do.
Other than that, making more than one is still unethical.

[This message has been edited by TomRobb (edited 11-29-2001).]

[Will]

Keith you may have to build Otter and send the man the pictures . I've put heat in my basement shop and will make a half model of Augustina this winter .

Mystic sells some interesting oar patterns too , includeing a sheet showing the details of an oar by RD Culler which appeares, much reduced , in one of his books ( Boats , Oars, and Rowing ?).

[Thad]

Ben, I have built Gardner's 8' pram, much more boat than most of it's persuasion, and his 16' widened Swampscott dory, also the LFH double paddle canoe, an excellent little thing (which has it's one little construction flaw that every builder seems to find some way around, consciously or otherwise). I have many of the Seaport plans and have tried to sell people on building a number of them, but I think that is all I've built, the others are fine reference material so far.

[Ben Fuller]

Back on the web after a run away for a week or so.

Thanks for comments. This particular catalog will only be on the plans that Mystic has created or commissioned specifically for building. Most of them are of boats in the Mystic collection. Drawing by Gardner, by Rob Pittaway and others. The ones by various designers that Mystic has in their collection: Strange, LFH et al are not in this one. The stamp on the plans from the historic collection are a CYA. The problem that designers have is that when someone builds a boat and then does something dumb is it the builder, the designer or the operator? The historic plans in the collection are reproduced without the experience that the person who draws the boat has with the type. Thus the owner of the repro rights is in a different position if they are not the people that created the plans.

[This message has been edited by Ben Fuller (edited 12-08-2001).]