Minoan Boatbuilding

 24 Feb 23:

From Ancient Origins: "The Minoans employed advanced construction methods using natural materials to create seaworthy composite ship hulls which would not be out-of-place in a modern-day marina. The construction method does not appear to have been used by, or transferred to, other thalassocracies which followed, e.g. Phoenicians. The technology represents a ‘lost art’ before 1500 BC that would not be seen again until the 1950s AD."

FMI: Ancient Origins 

Sailfish Handrails

 21 Feb 23:

We received an order for a set of handrails for a Super Sailfish, made of cypress. I thought I had a set made but checking the parts pile I discovered that I had cut blanks to make a set, but that was as far as I got. What we did have was a set made from pine and a vintage set made by the manufacturer out of mahogany. I sanded the old varnish off the mahogany set with 120 grit sandpaper on a DeWALT 20V random orbital sander, and they look great. The buyer was given the option of a refund, waiting for the new set to be cut,  or the pine, or the mahogany. They selected the mahogany.

Skipper Sighting

 10 Feb 23:

Skipper checking out one of the local creeks and the park during our almost daily walk, trying to figure out where to hide her pirate ships. I think she wants one on every creek.

Boats Then and Now

 10 Feb 23:

A few local boats from times past, working the rivers.

And a current day storage building, most likely a remnant of the waterfront warehouses. Might make a good boatbuilding shop?

And one of our current favorites, MARINER V, a leisure model of a traditional Chesapeake Deadrise workboat.

Local Maps

10 Feb 23: 

Some local maps. Plenty o' water for Skipper.

South Quay Surprise

 07 Feb 23:

We are doing some maritime research for Colonial Virginia during the 18th Century. One of the first things we came across was a seaport and shipyard at South Quay, established in 1657, one of the busiest in the area. Located on the Blackwater River near the Virginia-North Carolina border, the port there provided a protected spot for Colonial goods to flow in and out of the region of southside Virginia.

What surprised us was that large 3 masted schooners could make their way 120 miles from the Atlantic, through Albemarle Sound, up the Chowan River and into the Blackwater. Back in the day you could hop onboard get a non stop ride to England. If we were to go to this spot today, we might be lucky to drag a kayak over downfall from riverbank vegetation. How did they navigate schooners drawing 8-9 feet up river? Well for one, the land nearby was still in its natural wooded state,  there had not been clear cutting of trees that created erosion of nearby soil. But moreso, colonists made great effort to keep the river clear of debris. 

There were two small American rowing galleys built there that played a role in the Revolution, the CASWELL and GENERAL WASHINGTON, denying the British access to the area for much of the war. They were well armed and well suited for close quarters combat in confined areas. For 5 years supplies streamed up river to buoy the American cause, and finally in 1781 British units under the command of Colonel Banastre Tarleton occupied South Quay and destroyed the buildings and shipyard. 

The buildings at the village were rebuilt but South Quay did not long remain an important shipping port for the region, as more seaports were established and trading highways expanded inland.

Snow or Snau

 04 Feb 23:

In sailing, a snow, snaw or snauw is a square-rigged vessel with two masts, complemented by mizzen mast stepped immediately behind the main mast. These type ships are showing up more in our research of colonial ships. Fast little freight haulers. Skipper's ancestor Pierre had a snow named ST. Jacques during his Patriot-Pirate days.

Early Shipbuilding Tools and Shipyard

 04 Feb 22:

Early Shipbuilding Tools - The hand tools haven't changed much...

...nor the shipyard. There's skipper on the adze and me hauling planks. 

Top Streams in Isle of Wight County, VA

01 Feb 23:

A nice compilation of waterways in our new locale, with GPS coordinates: 

Top Streams in Isle of Wight County, Virginia

We have quite a few places to muck about in our new area, who knew there were so many creeks and swamps out here? We've been on Burwell's Bay, James River a few times, and there are ramps nearby for three of the creeks on the list, which lead into some of the other creeks. Maybe we can check out all of them, but the last on the list are Rattlesnake Swamp and Tormentor Creek.

We'll be watching the tide chart!

Cypress Creek near Smithfield Station.

One interesting part of our research, in the early 1800s there were proposals to connect the top of the Pagan River with the inland Blackwater River that runs down the County's western border, using a canal. This would have connected inland trade to both the James River and down the Blackwater-Chowan to Albermarle Sound. They only needed 10 miles of canal to do it, but it never happened. Had they done so, they would have made this part of SE Virginia and NE North Carolina an Island. A few decades later the railroads started laying track everywhere and waterway trade began to dry up. Trivia: Norfolk, VA is an island.

Pagan River - Blackwater River Canal

FMI: Smithfield Seaport