The Pioneer Steamship Savannah: A Study for a Scale Model: United States National Museum Bulletin 228, 1961, pages 61-80Chapelle, Howard Irving
History
The Pioneer Steamship Savannah: A Study for a Scale Model: United States National Museum Bulletin 228, 1961, pages 61-80
Chapelle, Howard Irving
Savannah (Steamship); Ship models
The reconstructed hull-form (figure 6) shows the man's bust figurehead
mentioned in the register, and the supporting head and trail mouldings
employed in the packets and other American ships of the period. The
figurehead may have had some relation to the original or intended name
of the ship prior to her purchase for conversion. No detailed
description has been found. A ship built to the drawing would at least
sail well and would carry her machinery, fuel, etc., as indicated in
the descriptions that exist. Whether or not the hull is precisely like
that of the original ship can never be determined until the original
plan, or model, is found. The proposed deck arrangement is shown in
dotted lines, in plan view.
[Illustration: Figure 7.--Reconstructed drawing of spar and outboard
profile of the _Savannah_. Dotted lines indicate working sails.
Standing rigging only is shown. Royal yards were set flying and were
crossed only when the ship was under full sail, never at anchor.
Notes.
All Masts, dia. = 1" for each 3'-0" of length.
3/4 dia. at trestletrees, 1/2 dia. at cap. Bowsprit same as mainmast,
Jibboom dia. = 1" for each 3'-0" of length, Flying Jibboom dia. = 1"
for each 5'-0" of length.
Pole 1/2 dia.
Yards, dia. = 1" for each 4'-0" of length, 1/2 or 3/7 dia. at end of
arms. Royal Yards, dia. = 1" for each 5'-0" of length.
Tops, fore & main, = 4/9 beam of ship, mizzen, 3/4 main top width.
Topmast crosstrees 3/5 of respective tops.
Trestletrees, depth = 11/12 of heel of topmast, thickness = 1/2 depth,
length = 1/2 width of top.
Running Rigging references:--
"Nautical Routine," Murphy & Jeffers, Ship Model Society of Rhode
Island, ed. 1933, (Higgins).
"Sheet Anchor," Darcy Lever, Charles E. Lauriat, ed. 1938.]
The rig shown in figure 7 is based upon Marestier's sketch and his
incomplete description. Since the ship had long royal poles on her
topgallant masts it is highly probable she crossed royal yards, like
the later packet ships. The proportions for the length of spars are
based upon the masting rules given by M'Kay[23] in 1839. The fore
spencer gaff, used as a crane for handling coal and cargo if the fore
or main yards were not available, may have been long enough to be used
also as a crane to handle the side wheels. The stack and mainstays may
have made the fore spencer sail a nuisance, so it may not have been
set while the vessel had her engine. In general, aside from the use of
the spencers on fore and main, the sail plan shown is of standard
proportions and arrangement of 1815-1825. For rigging, Darcy Lever's
book[24] was consulted. The drawing of the reconstructed _Savannah's_
sail plan agrees with contemporary sail plans of ships in the author's
collection. The log shows she set studding sails and had all the light
canvas of a ship of her type.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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