New/Old boat in town- Ches. Bay Skipjack???

[Matt Middleton]

The wife and I were walking around Melbourne Harbor last evening, and noticed a "new face." I'll try to describe it: It was around 40' on deck, and maybe 14' across the beam. Very wide, it seemed to me. It looked to be a gaff rig, only one mast. The mast was in 2 parts, the upper 1/4 of height being a sepewrate piece of wood mounted forward of the lower. It had two trunk cabins, both narrow and very box-like. I may have the beam measurements off because it had lots of deck space to either side of the cabin.
Anyhow, I also ussume it is carvel planked, but the planks were narrow- 3" or so at the transom, but I couldn't see how wide they were further forward. It had a clipper bow and bowsprit, and it was named Corsair, hailing out of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Needless to say, the Michelle and I were very excited to see a real wood boat, as they're uncommon down here. Does my description match a skipjack's? The type was suggested by a fellow who was around last night. I wish I had pictures, but I don't yet have a digital camera. I'm going back this afternoon to shoot some film.

[Greg H]

I've never seen a gaff on a skipjack, but, sure enough I found a picture.
http://www.finecut.com/bushkeeler/skipjack.jpg

This is what I've seen, the few I have seen.... smile.gif http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/MarineNotes/Sep-Dec99/skipjack.gif

[bud]

Most photo shops now will put a pic on a disk for you. The most striking thing about the skipjacks for me has always been the massive boom, it's actually not much smaller than the mast. :eek:

[Bill Dodson]

Skipjacks are V-bottomed with hard chines. You would be able to see the chines above the waterline at the stern. I've never heard of one being gaff rigged.

The gaff rigged boat in Greg's picture could be an oyster sloop... they were round-bottomed and frequently gaff rigged. The St Michaels Museum used to have one, the J T Leonard, but I guess they couldn't keep her alive. For an idea of what the sloops were like, check out: J T Leonard model (http://www.preckelboats.com/showcase/jtleonard.html) and Ruark painting (http://www.webgraphic.com/egeli/thesloop.htm)

[Matt Middleton]

This boat definitely has a round bilge- no chines. While looking at the transom, there is no evidence of a rudder or keel. I'm sure there is one, so I'm guessing it's somewhat forward of the transom.
If I remember correctly, there is no cockpit proper. Instead, there is a "box" on the deck with a wheel sticking out.
It seems to me to have more width than the pictures posted.

I'll get pictures up one day, but I take a while to use up a roll.

[CptnDon]

I saw Corsair in Annapolis 2? months ago. She is definitely NOT a Skipjack. I spoke w/her owner/builder who,told me,I think, she was a reproduction of a Louisiana trawler. Incidentally, she was originally two masted.

[Matt Middleton]

Thanks Captain

After looking at the skipjacks, I can see the differences. Any more info you have on Corsair would be appreciated. Oh yes, any info on their tender would be nice, too.

It was a really neat boat, and my wife and I were excited to see something like that locally. You folks who live more in wooden boat country really have it good. Nice ones are few and far between down here.