Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: Foggy bottom on January 02, 2011, 11:25:52 pm

Title: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: Foggy bottom on January 02, 2011, 11:25:52 pm: I'm looking for information on the "whaleback" ships which sailed for 43 years on the Great lakes. They were an innovative shape and VERY successful.
Foggy
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: oldiron on January 03, 2011, 12:53:51 am: This book is available , McDougall's Great Lakes Whalebacks (http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=McDougall%27s+Great+Lakes+Whalebacks&x=0&y=0)
I've got it and its worthwhile if you're interested in this unusual vessel. It is full of pictures of all versions of the design. One was built as passenger vessel, the SS Christopher Columbus. They were successful compared to the sailing merchant vessels of the time. However, their design limited the size the hull could be built to. This was their failing. Although they towed whaleback barges to increase their overall haulage capacity the design couldn't hold sway against the straight deck laker, which could be expanded to any size desired.
I have a number of photos of the preserved SS Meteor if you'd like me to post them. I believe there are plans available for the design too. Try Taubman Plan service at Loyalhanna Dockyard. Look under John Ericsson.

John
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: ggeorge on January 03, 2011, 03:44:39 am: Hi Foggy,
Oldiron gave you most of the information I have. I do have the plans for the Whaleback if you are looking for them. It would make a unusual and interisting model.
G.George
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: ggeorge on January 03, 2011, 03:50:19 am: Whaleback
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: ZZ56 on January 03, 2011, 03:55:18 am: Someone posted a built John Ericsson on the GLM website
http://greatlakesmodeling.com/museum/bk_john_ericsoon.htm (http://greatlakesmodeling.com/museum/bk_john_ericsoon.htm)
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: Dinosaursoupman on January 03, 2011, 07:18:01 pm: Here's a few pics of my Charles W. Wetmore. 1/48th inch scale makes it 66" long and requires about 30 pounds additional ballast to bring it to it's full capacity waterline. I too recommend the book on Mcdougall as it covers all of the vessels built including the 26 barges and the 17 steamers.

Randy
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: hazegry on September 11, 2011, 03:54:11 pm: those are great any plans around or do you have to build from pics?
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: oldiron on September 17, 2011, 03:28:41 am: Quote from: hazegry on September 11, 2011, 03:54:11 pm
those are great any plans around or do you have to build from pics?

Contact GGeorge, above, he has plans.

John
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: hazegry on September 22, 2011, 02:37:27 am: Thanks
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: Tug Hercules Fireman on February 14, 2012, 04:43:41 am: Not sure if the Whalebacks sailed on the American Great Lakes, but they did sail on the Canadian Great Lakes.
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: oldiron on February 14, 2012, 11:48:54 am: Quote from: Tug Hercules Fireman on February 14, 2012, 04:43:41 am
Not sure if the Whalebacks sailed on the American Great Lakes, but they did sail on the Canadian Great Lakes.

All the same thing. The only US only lake is Michigan. All the rest are split down the middle.

John
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: TailUK on February 14, 2012, 12:02:57 pm: Check out http://quod.lib.umich.edu/t/tbnms1ic?page=index

I just tried searching for whalebacks under "Vessel Type" and got 365 hits including the passenger steamer version. Very interesting!
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: oldiron on February 14, 2012, 01:16:08 pm: For more information on whalebacks, and other lake vessels and activities, try this web site: http://www.boatnerd.com/
Go to "search" and plug in whalebacks to turn up the available information.

John
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: Norseman on February 14, 2012, 10:57:29 pm: Never heard of these vessels before guys - but now I want to know more. O0

Dave
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: TailUK on February 15, 2012, 09:44:45 am: Apparently, because of their snout shaped bows these were nick-named "pig boats" I wonder if that nick name was transferred to American subs because of the similarity of the shape.
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: oldiron on February 15, 2012, 11:25:38 am: Here's an interesting news clip. Its not about whale boats, but it is about current Great Lakes shipping and may be of interest:

http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/671072--winter-s-cold-hides-port-activity

John
Title: Re: Whaleback ships on the American Great Lakes?
Post by: Michael 1979 on February 18, 2012, 12:08:43 am: Very different looking ships! They remind me submarines with ships superstructures on them :)