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[Foggy bottom]

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

[oldiron]

  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

[ggeorge]

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

[ggeorge]

Whaleback

[ZZ56]

Someone posted a built John Ericsson on the GLM website
http://greatlakesmodeling.com/museum/bk_john_ericsoon.htm

[Dinosaursoupman]

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

[hazegry]

those are great any plans around or do you have to build from pics?

[oldiron]

those are great any plans around or do you have to build from pics?

Contact GGeorge, above, he has plans.

John

[hazegry]

Thanks

[Tug Hercules Fireman]

Not sure if the Whalebacks sailed on the American Great Lakes, but they did sail on the Canadian Great Lakes.

[oldiron]

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

[TailUK]

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!

[oldiron]

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

[Norseman]

Never heard of these vessels before guys - but now I want to know more. 

Dave

[TailUK]

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.

[oldiron]

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

[Michael 1979]

Very different looking ships! They remind me submarines with ships superstructures on them :)