Boatstruck

22 Dec 20: 

Boatstruck. Author Michael Ruhlman spent some time at the boatyard of Gannon and Benjamin, learning about the craft of wooden boatbuilding. He offers up the definition of "boatstruck" in his book Wooden Boats: In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard.

"Some people become boat smart; others are simply struck. Something happens to certain men when they see a boat, and they become crazy. A man, or the occasional woman who is boatstruck shows no discernible outward signs of the illness....On the contrary, the boatstruck look more than reasonable. They are successful people. They are smart, cool, self-possessed, and they are pretty good on the water. They brim with a free and adventurous spirit. You tend to like these people - - they can be inexplicably magnetic.

And yet there is something exquisite about the condition of being boatstruck. An ecstasy runs through it, compulsive and contagious. You can see it, sense this delight, even if you happen to be free of this affliction yourself or don't sail or even if you don't particularly care for boats. Sometimes a beautiful boat is simply worthy of devotion, reverence and awe, and no one doubts it. A beautiful boat is as obviously invaluable as a Leonardo sketch or Monet's water lilies. The boat can be a magnificent structure." (p.11)

We know all about being boatstruck, and so do our friends Dozer, Murray, Webb, Richard, Alan, Scott, Doug, Steve, Ned, Maynard, Benjamin, Nat, Chris, Ann, Anne, Aileen...we've left out more than a few...

BARBASHELA struck us hard, especially Skipper.

...and now HENNING, among others...

...to be continued...

BARBASHELA 21 Foot Mississippi River Skiff by Captain Thomas P. Leathers

17 Dec 20:

We restored an 1880s Mississippi River Skiff named BARBASHELA back in 2016, her name has come up a lot recently, especially with our friend Webb. Webb knows a thing or two about boats, he's seen a few and spent some time in them, having circumnavigated 6 times. He suggested we post some more on BARBASHELA, a boat that he would like to row. BARBASHELA was designed and built by famous stemaboat Captain Thomas P. Leathers and given to Miss Winnie Davis in Biloxi, Mississippi. She has battled 38 Gulf Coast hurricanes and finally met her match with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and she lay damaged for 10 years before we wandered by to chat with her in 2016.

A volunteer at the Beauvoir Museum contacted us in the Summer of 2015, he followed our blog and wondered if we had any suggestions on how to preserve BARBASHELA. He sent these photos.

We saw a lot of spirit in that chaos, planks, a few seats, transom bits, risers, most of her bottom. We advised the volunteer to check with a couple of bigger businesses and museums we knew that handled wooden boats, and went back to our projects. 

January 2016 rolled around and we were down to one project, the Penobscot build, and we usually like to have 2. Skipper asked me "what ever happened to that little boat" so I called to check on her. We were told that most folks they talked to had said she couldn't be repaired, but maybe a replica could be made if she was taken apart to get her lines. We offered to swing by and look at her and see for ourselves. Skipper held down the fort and I went to Biloxi with Capn Jack and Skipper's Mom, who immediately offered up that "They can fix her." Very nice of her to have that confidence in us :)

I took some photos and showed them to Skipper, who also believed that she could be repaired. I believed as well, but wasn't sure who they thought would do the work! Turns out we all did the work, with generous telephone assistance from seasoned veterans of the wooden boat restoration world, Ross Gannon, Nat Benjamin, Graham McKay and Maynard Bray. Another invaluable resource was Gulf Coast maritime historian Russell Barnes, he had actually seen BARBASHELA many times in Biloxi and taken some measurements circa 2000, which we were able to reference.

Capn Jack, the Commodore and Skipper ready for Sea Trials. Oct 2016

Skipper's first look, she told the Museum Staff that we would row her again. 

First few pieces.

Back Home.

A few of BARBASHELA's friends, WINNIE and ST. JACQUES.

1921.

BARBASHELA 21 Mar 20 Walkaround at Beauvoir

21 MAR 20:

We stopped by Beauvoir to check on BARBASHELA's new display area. She looks great!





Log of BARBASHELA.

Mississippi River Yawl

14 Oct 19:

We come across paintings from back in the steamboat area and spot Mississippi yawls that look like BARBASHELA. Captain Thomas P. Leathers designed and built her on the deck of his steamer NATCHEZ in the early 1880s and then gifted her to Ms. Winnie Davis

(Image: Uncited)

Leathers 21 River Skiff BARBASHELA 08 Jul 19 Air Conditioned

08 Jul 19:

The folks at Beauvoir posted some nice pictures of BARBASHELA in her new air climate controlled home. Built in 1880, she was the pride and joy of Miss Winnie Davis and has since been a centerpiece of the Museum's collection. She is one of only a few personal belongings of the Davis family that survived post war ravages, and then Hurricane Katrina. She is also one of the oldest surviving small boats in America, predated by only a few craft. Once again she is available to entertain the visitors to the Museum, take a visit and ring the bell.

We'd like to thank everyone again who helped with technical advice and lended a hand for lifting, and to those who kindly donated funds to the cause. We are honored to have been entrusted with her care and restoration, and are excited as she turns the page to her newest chapter.

Leathers 21 River Skiff BARBASHELA 23 Jul 19 Airborne

06 Aug 19:

We restored the 1880s Mississippi River Skiff BARBASHELA back in 2016 for the Beauvoir Museum, she was moved inside to her new berth during the last part of July. She is the only surviving example of a skiff from that era, commonly used as tenders for steamboats. She was designed by Captain Thomas P. Leathers of the steamboat(s) Natchez, built on the deck of the Natchez and gifted to Ms. Winnie Davis of Biloxi. One of the things added for Winnie's comfort was floorboards, most skiff of that time were working skiffs and the bottom would have been open to scoop oysters, etc. She rows great, carries well and it is a treat to run her up on a beach and step right out onto the sand. Solid cypress, originally fasted with square nails. 21 feet long, 526 pounds. We used cypress from a local mill, silicone bronze, muslin, thickened epoxy and caulking cotton to get her back ship shape over a 10 month period.

We were happy to see that she is good shape and they are still using the cradle that we designed for her, it provides great support to her rockered hull and can easily roll around on furniture dollies. She also still has her bell, we hope all the kids get to ring it.

(Images Credit BEAUVOIR).

Log of BARBASHELA.

Ship Plans Smithsonian 17 Oct 17

17 Oct 17:

Sent off a copy of Barbashela's Restoration Report to the Smithsonian Ship Plans department. They are housed in the National Museum of American History and maintain an archive of ship plans. They will add the report, which includes line drawings and a Table of Offsets, to the archive.

Copies of Barbashela's Restoration Report may be purchased on Amazon.

Barbashela Log 18 Jun 16 Plank Caulk Update

18 Jun 16: Update:

Here's the video of the Skipper caulking Barbashela's planks. We found a vintage hammer and irons on ebay, also ordered a few more irons from Jamestown Distributors. We used the 1/32 iron to start the cotton into the seam and the 1/16 iron to "make" the cotton, or a pizza cutter wheel on the tight planks with cotton wicking. JD also sold us the cotton wicking and a pound of Bristol Sussex cotton. Louis Sauzedde's Tips From A Shipwright videos on caulking were helpful, JD Tech Help folks offered guidance and Graham McKay at Lowells Boat Shop gave us the tip on the pizza cutter! So that day we caulked AND cut pizza with the same wheel :)

FMI: Leathers 21 Barbashela Log

FMI: Tips From A Shipwright

Barbashela Log 10 May 16 Whiskey Gunwale

I am updating the blog with videos. Here is one of our favorites, the Whiskey Screw for the gunwale on Barbashela, the 1880s rowboat we restored in 2016.

10 May 16:

Last silicone bronze screw (whiskey or rum screw) for the gunwale and sheer clamp. Skipper did the honors with the Skill drill and a Frearson bit.



Tested out the middle rowing station for oar length.

FMI: Leathers 21 Barbashela Log

Barbashela Log 14 Jul 16

14 Jul 16:

Rolled the strongback out, then rolled Barbashela off onto the deck using broom sticks and pool noodles. Once on the deck we were able to roll her over with no problems and support her on carpenter benches.

Click here for Barbashela's full story.

Barbashela Log 23 May 16

23 May 16:

Skipper did some ergonomic testing on Barbashela, checking out oar lengths and heights for rowing thwarts. She was very excited to be in the boat!

Click here for the rest of Barbashela's story.