This will start a log of a my scratch build of a generic oyster sharpie from the late 19th century. The plans come from the NRG and were conceived and produced by Bill Strachan and Al Saubermann. The scale is 1/16, or 3/4" = 1'. From the NRG website:
"The Sharpie originated in the mid-19th century in the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut. The design quickly gained popularity, and by the 1880s, sharpies could be found in Florida and the Great Lakes. Sharpies were working boats with hard chines, flat bottoms, shallow drafts, and a centreboard. Their ease of construction, small size, low draft, and low, straight sides made sharpies perfect for harvesting oysters in shallow, tidal waters.
Sharpies varied greatly in length and rig, including Howard Chapelle’s elegant 14' Sharpie design to large boats in the 30-35' range two masts and 2-3 crew. The design is still popular as both a recreational and a working craft, with local variants found worldwide. As a result, the sharpie offers the modeler a wide range of options for detailing, paint schemes, sailing rigs, and weathering."
"The Sharpie originated in the mid-19th century in the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut. The design quickly gained popularity, and by the 1880s, sharpies could be found in Florida and the Great Lakes. Sharpies were working boats with hard chines, flat bottoms, shallow drafts, and a centreboard. Their ease of construction, small size, low draft, and low, straight sides made sharpies perfect for harvesting oysters in shallow, tidal waters.
Sharpies varied greatly in length and rig, including Howard Chapelle’s elegant 14' Sharpie design to large boats in the 30-35' range two masts and 2-3 crew. The design is still popular as both a recreational and a working craft, with local variants found worldwide. As a result, the sharpie offers the modeler a wide range of options for detailing, paint schemes, sailing rigs, and weathering."