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During her 80
years and 37 voyages, the Charles W. Morgan caught and
processed more whales than any other whaling ship in history. Built
in 1841 at the Hillman Brothers Shipyard on the Accent River in New
Bedford, MA, she was registered at 351 tons. The Morgan was
originally built fully ship-rigged, but shortly after the Civil War
she was modified to become a double topsail bark. Her whaling days
came to end in 1921 with the decline of whale oil prices. Purchased
for Mystic Seaport in 1941, she's now a beautifully restored
monument to the men who built and sailed her.
Designed by
naval architect Ben Lankford, Model Shipways' kit replicates the
Charles W. Morgan as a double topsail bark of 1892-1908.
Lankford's precise drawings (a set of six) are based on plans for
the 1983 restoration, provided by Mystic Seaport. A 40 page
step-by-step instruction book includes many of the author's own
photographs of the reconstructed vessel.
Plank-on-bulkhead construction uses laser cut basswood for the hull
components. Wooden bow and stern filler blocks help you shape the
real ship. We supply 75 feet of copper sheathing to cover the hull
below the waterline. Wooden yards and mast, 140 deadeyes in three
sizes, nearly 200 single and double blocks, four diameters of black
running rigging and two of white standing rigging duplicate the rig
plan of the original whaler. An assortment of fine metal fitting
includes brass ship's bell, belaying pins, eyebolts, spilt rings,
strips, wire and chain, anchors, bilge pump, chocks, cleats, fire
door, chimney, and galley stack. Seven whaleboats, to be assembled
from laser cut wooden parts, come complete with authentic scale
whaling gear.
(Display base
and pedestals are not included.)
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