MERCHANT BRIGANTINE, 1866 

 Builder's Half-Model, usnm 76117 



Antelope^ Gcr::elle 



The trading hrigantincs Antelope and Gazelle were 

 huilt on this model at Harrington, Maine, in 1866 

 for the West Indian and coastwise trades. Vessels 

 of this general model were good carriers and excellent 

 seaboats; they sailed moderately well, and were 

 considered by Maine shipowners to be very profitaiile 

 in the West Indian trade. The Antelope, launched in 

 July 1866 and wrecked on the Delaware Breakwater 

 a few years later, and the Gazelle, launched in Septem- 

 ber 1866, measured 329.92 and 326.37 gross tons 

 register, respectively. 



The half-model is of a brigantine measuring about 

 117 feet moulded length at rail, 113 feet 9 inches 

 between perpendiculars, 23 feet 3)2 inches beam, 

 and 14 feet moulded depth. Scale of the model is 

 Yi inch to the foot. 



The model has moderate sheer, a straight keel with 

 very slight drag, slightly raking stem rabbet with 

 moderate flare and a slightly rounc^ed forefoot, nearly 

 upright post, short counter with raking elliptical 

 transom, rather full and short entrance, marked 

 length of body, and a short and somewhat full run. 

 The midsection shows a slightly rising straight floor, 

 round and very easy bilge, and a slight tumble-home 

 in the topside. The ijow sections have marked flare. 



Mounted with long head, cutwater, keel, post, 

 rudder, and short quarterdeck monkey rail. 



Given by V. L. Coffin, Harrington, Maine. 



MERCHANT BRIGANTINE, 1871 

 Builder's Half-Model, usnm 76116 



MiHiiie Smith 



The brigantine Minnie Smith was built on this model 

 by Ezekiel Dyer at Millbridge, Maine, in 1871 for 

 the West Indian, coastwise and foreign trades. She 

 cost S20,000 to build and was lost while entering the 

 port of Salerno, Italy, from the West Indies, on her 

 maiden voyage. 



The half-model represents a brigantine having mod- 

 erate sheer, a straight keel with little drag, some- 

 what upright and flaring stem rabljet with a slightly 

 rounded forefoot, nearly vertical post, short and wide 

 counter with thin elliptical transom, moderately 

 sharp but short entrance, marked length of body, 

 and a rather full run of moderate length. The mid- 

 section has a slightly rising straight floor, an easy. 



round bilge, and tuml^le-home in the topside. The 

 Ijow sections have considerable flare. 



Mounted with longhead, cutwater, keel, post, 

 rudder, and a short quarterdeck monkey rail. 



The model is for a vessel measuring about 116 feet 

 8 inches moulded length at rail, 26 feet 8 inches 

 moulded beam, and 12 feet moulded depth. Scale 

 of the model is % inch to the foot. 



Gi\en l)y Chaplain Austin Dyer. 



MERCHANT BRIGANTINE, 1874 

 Builder's Half-Model, usnm 76075 



/. W. Parker 



The trading brigantine J. IT. Parker of Belfast, 

 Maine, was built at that port by C. P. Carter and 

 Company in 1874 on this model. This firm, noted 

 for the fine design and construction of its vessels, had 

 built many 3- and 4-masted schooners and barken- 

 tines, and at least one clipper ship, having started 

 building in about 1851. The J. IV. Parker was in- 

 tended for general freighting in the coastwise. West 

 Indian, and European trades, and w^as, therefore, a 

 large vessel for her rig. Her model represents the 

 final development of the American trading l^rigantine, 

 coml:)ining swift sailing, weathcrliness, and good 

 handling qualities with excellent cargo capacity. The 

 brigantines remained popular with some shipowners 

 in the West Indian and European trades after the 

 Parker was built; a number of fine vessels of this rig 

 were bmlt in Nova Scotia in the 1880's and 1890's. 

 In the coastwise and, more slowly, in the West 

 Indian trade, the brigantine was replaced by the 

 3-mastecl schooner, which benefited more by use of 

 steam winches than the brigantine. The rising cost 

 of manpower necessitated the use of a rig that could 

 be handled by fewer men and, as size increased, by 

 the additional help of the donkey engine and its 

 \vinch. The mechanical aids combined to doom the 

 brigantine in these trades, for the latter's square sails 

 could not be handled by any practical arrangement 

 of the steam winch. 



The half-model represents a brigantine having 

 strong sheer, a straight keel with slight drag, moder- 

 ately flaring and raking stem rabbet with slightly 

 rounded forefoot, nearly vertical post, short and light 

 counter ending in a raked elliptical transom much 

 curved athwartships, short and sharp entrance, 

 moderate length of body, and a short but easy run. 

 The midsection is formed with a moderately rising 

 straight floor, firm roimd bilge, and tumble-home in 



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