Find out what The Dock Yard is all about.

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Spanish galleons conjure up visions of sunken treasure and conquistadores. Built during the 16th and 17th centuries, they served the Spanish crown as merchantmen and warships. A typical galleon was a three-masted vessel with a square rig, sloping hull sides, flat stern and protruding bow.

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Subforum: Apostol Felipe 'ocCre' by uglytuco

Privateers were privately owned vessels whose owners were commissioned by the government to carry on naval warfare. Privateering is not considered piracy, which is performed without government authorization. During the 18th century, many small single masted ships were armed and used for privateering. These Chesapeake-built vessels were fast and easily maneuverable with a graceful sheer and a low freeboard. They evolved from the Bermuda sloops of c. 1740 and the trim, sharp Virginia schooners found in Steel’s Naval Architecture of 1805.

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Subforum: Armed Virginia Sloop 'Model Shipways' by Nobo

The Bluenose was built in 1921 in Nova Scotia specifically to compete for the International Trophy prize. The original Bluenose was lost on a reef near Tahiti in 1946 and an exact replica (Bluenose II) was launched in 1963.

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Subforum: Bluenose 'Amati' by randalljfox

The Benjamin W. Latham is an outstanding example of a turn-of-the-century Grand Banks fisherman. Built in the Tarr & James yard at Essex, MA in 1902, she sailed out of Noank, CT as a mackerel steiner. From 1906 to the end of her career, she operated as a dory trawler out of New York's Fulton Fish Market. She was lost off the coast of San Juan in 1943.

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Subforum: Benjamin Latham 'Model Shipways' by j_lefever

The H.M.A.V. Bounty will always be remembered, thanks to the dramatic mutiny led by Fletcher Christian against the infamous Captain Bligh. After a trip to Tahiti, Fletcher and his mutineers Cast Bligh and 18 of his loyal supporters drift in the ship's launch. Bligh survived the perilous voyage to Timor, only to be ousted from another ship in 1797.

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Subforums: HMAV Bounty "Del Prado' by Grant B, HMAV Bounty 'Caldercraft' By Clloyd, HMAV Bounty 'AL' by Ulises Victoria, HMAV Bounty 'Caldercraft' by MikeStone

The "Skipjack" is the last working sailboat to ply the American waters in and significant numbers.

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Subforum: Chesapeake Bay Skipjack with deck planking modification By evetsmd

The USS Constitution won every battle she ever fought. She is the most famous American warship and is also the oldest commissioned warship. She earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" when a sailor saw a cannon ball bounce off her hull.

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Subforum: USS Constitution 'Constructo' by WackoWolf

The Cruiser class were brig rigged sloops and were the most numerous class of warships built in the age of sail. One hundred and three built in all from the Cruiser in 1797, to the Zebra in 1815. The Cruiser class played a very active roll in the Napoleonic wars, from escort duty, reconnaissance and enemy convoy and inshore raiding.

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Subforum: JHMS Cruiser 'Caldercraft' by CaptainJack

During the early 19th century, many Baltimore clippers were granted privateering licenses by the US government. Since all commerce was subject to the legalized banditry of privateers, only a fast, well handled ship could be reasonably sure of reaching its destination. Privateers like the Dapper Tom depended on their sailing abilities and fire power to prey on foreign shipping and to escape the British men-of-war patrolling the high seas. The Dapper Tom, an 8-gun topsail schooner, is to great extent, typical of Baltimore Privateers of a stormy decade when ships were at the mercy of any stranger, and even armed ships were safe only in proportion to their nimbleness.

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Subforum: Dapper Tom 'Model Shipways' by Felkor

When completed it will represent the "Tijger" a mid-size jacht of 140 tons burden, which sailed to the East Indies and back for the Old Dutch East India Company in either 1598 or 1599 (sources vary). Jacht is an old Dutch term for small, fast three masted vessel, different from the later class of pleasure boats like the Yacht Mary.

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Subforum: Dutch Jacht Tijger of 1616 'Kit bash' Woodburner

Captain Cook made his most famous voyage aboard the Endeavour. Lieutenant James Cook set sail from Plymouth, England on August 26, 1768 on the Endeavour. He was accompanied by students, family, and a 94 man crew. On this sail he discovered Australia and mapped New Zealand, Tahiti, and The Society Islands. By the end of the voyage Cook advised the Admiralty that only ships like the Endeavour should be used in exploration.

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Subforums: HMS Endeavour 'AL' by Tony B, HMS Endeavour 'AL' by Ulises Victoria, HMS Endeavour 'Caldercraft' by Lillee, HMS Endeavour 'AL' by Aussie Dave

HMS Fly was the fifth vessel built of the Swan Class of ship rigged sloop, of which twenty five of the class were built for the Royal Navy from 1766 to 1780. Fly, as with the entire Swan class, was designed by Williams and her construction was ordered by the Admiralty on 1 August 1775 to be built at Sheerness Dockyard. The keel was laid in January, 1776, and launched on 14 September 1776. There is little remaining knowledge about H.M.S. Fly's operational career, but from what little evidence there is, Fly was commissioned mainly for convoy escort duty and dispatch duty. She did capture a French privateer, Le Gleneur, off Portland after a long chase. Fly continued convoy duties until she foundered and was lost off Newfoundland in 1802.

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Subforums: HMS Fly 'Victory Models' by MikeStone, HMS Fly 'Victory Models' by ccoyle, HMS Fly 'Victory Models' by simon porter

Built in Tasmania, Harriet McGregor launched in 1870 by Alex McGregor & Company and made 24 voyages from Hobart to London and back before being sold in London 1895 ; burnt near Rio 1896.

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Subforum: Harriet McGregor 'Scratch' by Jimsquared

The Harvey is an example of a Baltimore Clipper. These ships came into their own towards the end of the 19th century and were often in competition with the early steam powered vessels. Ships like the Harvey sailed between the newly found California and the East Coast helping jumpstart the development of the western part of the US.

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Subforum: Harvey Baltimore Clipper 'AL' By mlbryant

A warship with an overall length of 65 metres, and 1,500 square metres of sail spread over three masts, the Hermione was built in 1778 on plans drafted by the engineer Chevillard Aîné. Along with the Courageuse, Concorde and the Fée, it was one of a series of four frigates being built at Rochefort (France). Belonging to the so-called light frigates class, characterised by their speed and manoeuvrability; the Hermione was fitted out with 26 cannon capable of firing cannonballs weighing half a kilo (one pound) each. It took hundreds of carpenters, ironsmiths, hole-drillers, nail-drivers and caulkers (convicts pressed into service) 11 months and an aggregate total of more than 35,000 working days to build the frigate which was 44.20 metres long and over 11 metres wide.

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Subforum: Hermione La Fayette 'AL' by selrache

In the days of sailing ships, a vessel would carry several boats for various uses. One would be a longboat, an open, primarily rowing, boat with eight or ten oarsmen, two per thwart. In other words the longboat was double banked: its rowing benches were designed to accommodate two men. Unlike the dinghy or the cutter, the longboat would have fairly fine lines aft to permit its use in steep waves such as surf or wind against tide where need be.

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Subforum: 1:64 scale 'scratchbuilt' plank on frame 26 foot longboat by dchelmow

The James Craig is a three-masted iron barque built in 1874 by Bartran, Haswell & Co, Sunderland, England, as the Clan MacLeod for Thomas Dunlop. For 26 years she plied the trade routes of the world carrying general cargoes during which period she rounded Cape Horn 23 times. In 1900 she was purchased by Mr J J Craig of Auckland and was used on trans-Tasman trade routes as a general cargo carrier. In 1905 she was re-named James Craig

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Subforum: James Craig 'Scratch" by Grant B

The J.S. Elcano was built in Cadiz Spain and has been a training ship for Spanish cadets. The J.S. Elcano first launched on March 5, 1927. In 1964, she competed in a 3,600 mile race between Lisbon and Hamilton reaching a top speed of 15 knots. This beautiful 4 masted schooner had a crew of 36 officers, 143 trainee sailors and 70 Marines. The J. S. Elcano also has 2 saluting cannons, and is over 94 meters long.

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Subforum: J.S. Elcano 'AL' by larsen

The HMS Pandora, a Barnard built 24-gun frigate, was sent in pursuit of Fletcher Christian's Bounty mutineers. In 1791 when homeward bound and with 14 mutineers successfully captured, she struck part of the Great Barrier Reef . Unlike the majority of ships which ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef , the Pandora did not break up. Refloated by her crew, she later sank in the Torres Strait virtually intact and settled into the sea bed. Her captain and 98 others then sailed 1,200 miles to a Dutch settlement in Timor in four of the ship's boats. In 1977, one hundred and eighty six years later, explorers discovered the wreck 150 kilometers east of Cape York . She is reportedly sitting on sand in approximately 30 meters of water. Many artifacts were recovered including the surgeons watch from the site.

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Subforums: HMS Pandora 'Constructo' by mik1, HMS Pandora, 24 Gun Frigate, Scratch POB By clloyd

The galleon San Martin was originally built as a 1,000-ton Portuguese warship, carrying 48 guns and a crew of 650 men. She was taken into the Spanish Navy 1580 and became the flagship of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

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Subforum: San Martin 'OcCre' by selrache

Built in Havana in 1769, Santisima Trinidad carried 120 guns on three decks. Badly damaged in the battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1799, she was rebuilt with the addition of a fourth deck and the number of cannons increased to 136, making her the largest ship of her time. In 1805, she sailed into the Battle of Trafalgar with a crew of 1048 men and her immense 4 decked sides showing the barrels of her formidable guns. The British disabled and captured her during the battle. She sank in a storm the next day, ending her 35 year service to the Spanish Navy.

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Subforums: Santisima Trinidad "The Giant of its Age" 'OcCre' by Fam, Santisima Trinidad cross section 'OcCre' by Selrache

The Scotland was a typical Baltic Ketch of the late 18th century. This small ship was used for transporting goods and passengers and was also used in rivers and on some of the larger lakes as well.

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Subforum: Scotland 'Corel' by Robbox

The Sherbourne was built as a revenue vessel for the Customs Service. She was designed by Sir Thomas Slade, the designer of the famous Victory and was built and launched in 1763. After over 20 years of service, Sherbourne was sold in 1784, a remarkably long career for such a small vessel.

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Subforum: HM Cutter Sherbourne 'Caldercraft" by Killick

The Supply was the smallest of the First Fleet being only 170 tons and 70 feet long. Carrying 50 people and skippered by Captian Henry Bull, she led the fleet most of the way primarily because of her speed. Little is known of this brig's early history, but it seems she was built in America in 1759 and was commissioned by the Admiralty in October 1786. The Supply returned to England where she was renamed the 'Thomas & Nancy'. The ship seems to have carried coal on the Thames until around 1806.

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Subforum: HMS Supply 'AL' By MICOSAY

An elegant frigate designed by naval architect F. H. Chapman in 1700 for the British fleet, the Unicorn's design revolutionized the design and construction of men-of-war because of her speed and maneuverability.

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Subforums: HMS UNICORN 'Corel' by Captain Mouppe, HMS Unicorn 'Corel' by Dick Deadeye

The Vasa sank within one nautical mile of the start of her maiden voyage in 1628 before she even left the Stockholm archipelago. Anders Franzén had already found some 17th century wooden ships, as his hobby and obsession was looking for old wrecks. He was bent on finding Vasa and did. Franzén found her in 1956. Although she is now housed on public exhibition, more than 30 years after she was initially brought up, and 95% of her is original parts, some reconstruction work remains to be done.

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Subforums: Vasa 'Billing Boats' by Erik Nyrén, Waza/Vasa 'Sergal/Mantua' by Walter Cooper, Wasa 'Mantua/Sergal' by MikeStone

The HMS Victory is the last surviving warship that fought in the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic wars. She was ordered by the Navy Board in 1759 and was built in Chatham Dockyard. The HMS Victory is best known as Lord Admiral Nelson's flagship in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In 1922 she was towed into drydock and restored to her 1805 condition. She is currently drydocked in Portsmouth harbour.

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Subforums: HMS Victory bow section 'Panart' by Stockholm Tar, HMS Victory 'Mantua 1:98' by Chrism, HMS Victory 'Jotika' by Peter Pann, Hms Victory 'Caldercraft' by tcoteof, Hms Victory 'Corel' by Erik Nyrén, HMS Victory 'Mamoli MV27' by stephane

Wappen Von Hamburg was commissioned by Admiral Karpfanger, and she distinguished herself as a Convoy Escort Ship, sinking several pirate ships during her short but successful career. On October 10th, 1683 fire broke out on board in the port of Cadiz. The magazine exploded killing Admiral Karpfinger and 22 others and destroyed the ship.

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Subforum: Wappen Von Hamburg 'Corel' by myxyzptlyk2003

The origins of the Maine Lobsterboat at this time are not yet agreed upon. Most authorities argue that these boats evolved from the Maine Hampton Boats of the early part of the 20th Century. But exactly when and where the first true "Lobsterboat" was built is yet still known. Today, there are literally thousands of these vessels, all very similar, being used along the Maine Coast of the United States.

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Subforum: Midwest Boothbay Lobsterboat 'Midwest' by Donnie