Looking to find/build whaleboat

[whaleboat]

I am looking to acquire a early 19th century whaleboat for a film. Does anyone know where or how I could buy or build such a thing? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Here is a picture of what one would look like:



I'm not sure of size or dimensions. It would have been able to seat 5 or so crew members.

I was more or less concerned if it was possible to find one or find a boat that would be similar to it.
Thanks.

[Bergalia]

If you have a Naval 'scrapyard' near you, you could get lucky. A very similar craft was used for shore parties (The jolly boat) up until twenty years ago.
Not much use to you, unfortunately, but I picked up a 21foot 'whaleboat/jolly boat' from the Royal Navy scrapyard at Invergordon (north of Inverness, Scotland) some twenty years ago, tucked away among a dozen or more old lifeboats. Cost me all of ten pounds, and was in immaculate condition - sans oars. The point is, most Navies used them in the last (20th Century) - having more dignity than foul-smelling diesel mortors. It also kept the crews' waistlines trim of fat.
Other than that all I can do is wish you luck.

[Guillermo]

You should pay a visit to the Açores archipelago. Maybe they can still build one of those boats for you, or you can find one for sale. They have an active fleet nowadays, not only in museums, but also in the hands of Clubs and particulars. They even race them.
http://www.da.online.pt/news.php?id=88147
http://www.espacotalassa.com/04_pt/0...dex_museum.htm

[Robert Gainer]

Mystic Seaport in Connecticut has what you need. You might be able to rent one but I don’t think they would sell one. They still build them and use them as part of the program.
Robert Gainer

[Bergalia]

Quite right, Guillermo. The Llaut pulling boat. Saw them around Ebro, Catalonia. Must have been a dozen or more - as near a whaleboat as dammit.
Another option would be to search through some of the lighter Faroese craft, double-enders; or for something heavier an Orkney Yole (sans mast) might give you the basis for design. Just a thought anyway.

[Vega]

If you chose Azores, the right time is in August, during the whaler’s week.
They have races, rowing and sailing and lots of boats.
This is last year Feast's Program:
http://www.picoazores.com/festas/semana_baleeiros.php

[Sander Rave]

Hi Whaler,

In Holland it is still a rowing class and the boats are still build. I know a Dutch builder, and apart from that those boats are sometimes for sale.
I can imagine Holland is kind of out of the way, but a shipment by 40' container won't cost you the world.
Just let me know if I can help you.
Regards,

Sander
PS. attached a picture of one of our whalers (the top one)

[Guillermo]

The Basque people, in the north of the Iberian peninsula and southwest of France, hunted whales in their home waters from the 11th century and went to Labrador after them maybe as soon as 1517. There are some authors maintaining they arrive to America even before Christopher Columbus (Most unprobable). The later whalers in North America developed from the original basque boats.

[JPC]

Check

http://www.bawra.org/ and
http://www.takstudios.com/boat.html

Neither of these presents a whaleboat in Florida, but these are actively raced/maintained in SF (see also some of the boats built by the Dolphin Club in SF, but most of these are sliding seat), and I would guest that there are similar programs closer to you.

Most of the raced boats are fiberglass, so don't look like your model, but might be suitable (mock-up-able) for your film application.

-JPC

(sorry: "SF" means San Francisco)

[Guillermo]

Boats referred by JPG are rather lifeboats than whaleboats. Having a fuller hull, probably evolved from them.
Here you have a man who can build a replica of an original basque whaler:
http://www.euskonews.com/artisautza/...uktuak_es.html

[Sander Rave]

The bottom one is indeed a lifeboat

[twboatworks]

any luck finding a whaleboat? I could probably build you one if you can't find something. I'm in Key West Florida. I build wood and composite boats, as well as custom high-end yacht interiors. If you need something built for your film, I can surely get it done for you. Send me an email if you are interested.

[Dave Fleming]

The Whaleboat, a Study of Design, Construction and Use from 1850 to 1970.

Willits D. Ansel

Mystic Seaport Musuem

ISBN: 0-913372-40-4 Paperback
Copyright: 1978


Twice Round the Loggerhead, The Culture of Whaling in the Azores

ISBN: 0-918172-22-5 Hardcover

Copyright: 1999